The 2025 Zurich Classic has officially wrapped up in Louisiana, leaving us with plenty of thrills, chills, and double bogeys to dissect. From surprising triumphs to heartbreaking near-misses, this year’s edition of the PGA Tour’s only team event had more drama than your average reality TV season. Let’s break it all down, player by player, birdie by bogey.
Novak and Griffin’s Big Break
Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin showed up at TPC Louisiana with more to prove than an amateur with a 15 handicap who just bought $4,000 worth of golf gear. These guys didn’t just play to win; they played like they had a point to make. For two players without a previous PGA Tour victory to their names, this felt like a fairy tale, complete with a tense final chapter.
Together, they posted a jaw-dropping -28, closing out with rounds of 62, 66, 61, and an admittedly shaky 71. They started the final round with a three-stroke cushion, and true to the overcooked metaphor, things got a little rubbery. They opened with bogeys and even handed their lead away at one point. But here’s where it gets spicy. Griffin calmly drained a tournament-stealing birdie putt on the 17th. Anyone who’s ever flubbed a two-footer knows just how much swagger is required to nail a shot like that when the stakes are higher than your heart rate after a triple bacon cheeseburger.
This win launches Novak to 6th in the FedEx Cup standings and places Griffin at 21st. Oh, and for 2026, they’re heading to Kapalua for The Sentry. Not a bad gig for two guys who were chasing their first win like hackers chasing their ball in the woods.
Nearly Great Danes: The Højgaard Twins
If you don’t know Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, pretty much identical Danish twins with a penchant for working their way up the leaderboard, then you’re missing out. These two practically invented the phrase “started from the bottom now we’re here.” Ranked outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings at the start of the week, they clawed their way back into the top 90 with their runner-up finish at -27.
Their teamwork was so seamless it probably made their competition wonder if twin telepathy might actually be real. They had three birdies in four holes on Sunday to spice things up, hovering just one shot behind Novak and Griffin. But alas, the magic wore off before the trophy presentation. That said, watch out for these two in future events. They’ve got the game to make regular appearances in PGA Tour winner’s circles.
McIlroy & Lowry’s “Meh” Defense
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry came to defend their Zurich Classic crown, armed with killer resumes and (probably) really nice whiskey. They didn’t exactly nosedive into the earth like an overhit flop shot, but they also failed to pull off anything major, finishing at a respectable -22 and tied for 12th.
Their undoing? A rollercoaster of a second round filled with three bogeys in their last six holes. That’s the kind of scorecard that can make even the calmest person rage-quit. Defending this title was always a tough ask, though—to their credit, they showed flashes of greatness. Does “defending champion” still count if your performance screams “close, but not quite?” Asking for a friend.
Noteworthy Disappointments
Then there’s the duo of Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, who went from favorites to flops faster than a shanked tee shot. They missed the cut after a disastrous Round 2 where two double bogeys sent them packing. How bad was it? Well, if their strategy was to make weekend plans that didn’t involve golf, they absolutely nailed it.
Poston and Mitchell also underwhelmed, finishing at -21 in T18. These guys are capable of a lot better, but their four-ball game was as disappointing as a male bev-cart girl.
What’s Next?
The Zurich Classic has set the stage for an intriguing PGA Tour season. Novak and Griffin’s win all but secures their spots in upcoming big-ticket events, but more importantly, it should turn the heat up on other players who failed to deliver in Louisiana. Will the Højgaards build on their momentum? Can Rory shake off whatever post-Masters hangover is still lingering? Is Morikawa due for a Cinderella-like comeback?
Golf fans, buckle up. If this tournament proved anything, it’s that nothing in this sport is predictable, except for how long your buddies will talk about that one shot they hit just right.
