Masters Champion Returns to Team Event

Rory McIlroy received a special introduction on the first tee Thursday at TPC Louisiana – his first tournament since capturing the Masters title. Together with teammate Shane Lowry, the defending champions opened with a solid 8-under 64 in the Four-ball format at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

“I was glad they remembered THE PLAYERS as well,” McIlroy joked about his introduction. “It seems like a distant memory at this point… Look, very nice. I could get used to it.”

Strong Start, Room for Improvement

Lowry carried the team early, making birdies on three of their first four holes before McIlroy caught fire on their second nine with a birdie on No. 1 and an eagle on No. 2. Despite a few missteps, including both players finding the water on the par-4 sixth hole, the Irish duo finished the day in contention but well behind the day’s record-setters.

The Højgaard twins initially tied the Four-ball scoring record with a 13-under 59 before Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo broke it with a remarkable 14-under 58.

“You always know in Four-ball, especially early Thursday morning, the golf course is probably going to play at its easiest. You’ve got to get out there and shoot a score,” Lowry said. “I think the two Foursomes days in this tournament are huge. That’s what separates the field.”

No team has ever successfully defended their title at the Zurich Classic, but McIlroy and Lowry remain confident heading into Friday’s more challenging alternate-shot format: “If you can shoot good scores on those days, you can move up the board pretty quickly.”