This week’s Zurich Classic does not feature a star-studded field like last week’s RBC Heritage, and that presents an incredible opportunity for Brooks Koepka.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, and Koepka are by far the three biggest names in this year’s field, as Koepka teams up with 2024 winner Lowry as the tournament’s second biggest favorite.
But while this is a team event, winning it offers the same benefits as any other PGA Tour win for both playing partners. That’s why it’s so popular for many players further down the leaderboards.
This also presents the best chance of the year for Koepka to win his first PGA Tour event since returning from LIV Golf, and that could have huge implications for the rest of the season.
Brooks Koepka’s massive opportunity at the Zurich Classic
When Koepka returned to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf, he did so under specific conditions. On top of making a $5 million charitable donation and foregoing any FedEx Cup bonus money, he also agreed not to receive any sponsor exemptions for Signature Events.
He was the first alternate at last week’s RBC Heritage, and was spotted resting in the sun in anticipation of a player withdrawing from the tournament. They did not, so Koepka missed out on the $20 million event.
But while the five-time major winner is not allowed to receive sponsor exemptions, he can still qualify for the signature events. And the simplest way to do that is to win.
If Koepka were to win this week alongside Lowry, he would receive automatic entry into every Signature Event for the rest of the year.
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He would suddenly have spots in the upcoming Cadillac Championship, May’s Truist Championship, and the Memorial and Travelers Championship in June, all of which offer $20 million purses and increased FedEx Cup points.
That would be a complete game-changer for Koepka, who would no longer need to sit on the sidelines watching the best in the world compete at these events.
And he’s incredibly unlikely to be the second favorite to win a tournament for the rest of the year. That’s the gift given to him by Lowry, who offered to be his partner when Rory McIlroy ruled himself out of the tournament.
Partnering with another major champion to build the most talented pairing in the event is a golden chance for Koepka, so he and Lowry will need to lock in and win in New Orleans.
Why other PGA Tour players may hope Brooks Koepka wins the Zurich Classic
Another condition for Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour was that the tour expand the field by two additional spots in events that he plays this season. This rule was introduced to keep the peace with other tour members who may have felt like he was taking their spot in events.
When Koepka enters a PGA Tour event, he doesn’t bump another player out. Instead, the field size is increased to accommodate him.
But because golf tournaments generally play in groups of three for the first two days, if you add just one player, you are left with an odd man out. So to make the numbers work, the Tour adds two more players to the field.
At the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open, Koepka’s entry meant that the Tour reached into the alternate list and gave starts to Matt Kuchar and Justin Lower, who otherwise wouldn’t have been in the field.
At The Players Championship, his presence opened the door for Seamus Power and Patton Kizzire to get unexpected starts.
So if Koepka were to win the Zurich, two more spots would open up for every Signature Event he plays in, meaning there are more opportunities for players further down the roster to qualify for these big-money events.
So some may be secretly rooting for the American and Lowry this week!
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