Rory McIlroy has a new event on his schedule for 2024, and Shane Lowry will join him.
The European Ryder Cup stalwarts will compete as teammates in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana at the end of April.
McIlroy, a four-time Major champion, is set to make his debut at the event, which has operated as a two-person team event since 2017.
However, Lowry has had multiple partners in an event he has participated in four times. Previously, he played with former Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, who is now on the PGA Tour Champions, in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, he partnered with Ian Poulter, who is now at LIV Golf, in 2022.
When McIlroy was questioned about the origins of the partnership, the 34-year-old responded with his characteristic wit.
“I asked him [to play],” McIlroy said. “You know it was actually, we had this really drunken lunch after the Ryder Cup last year, and I said after, ‘You wanna play the Zurich together?’ And we were like, yeah, let’s do it.
“So I was like, ‘Yeah, if you are looking to play?’” McIlroy said. “And I’ve never played before, so I’m looking forward to it.”
It all started with a “really drunken lunch.”
Rory McIlroy tells @kclairerogers how he and Shane Lowry teamed up for the Zurich. pic.twitter.com/4CLmzeWrYN
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) March 25, 2024
Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
