Fitzpatrick brothers' magical PGA Tour season takes another turn with Zurich Classic win

Alex Fitzpatrick, right, reacts after sinking a birdie putt and winning the Zurich Classic with his brother Matt Fitzpatrick. Matthew Hinton / The Associated Press Share articleThere may be no two parents having a better month than Russell and Susan Fitzpatrick. Sure, their U.S. Open-winning eldest son, Matt, was already re-staking his claim as a top-tier player. He’s been one of the main characters of this PGA Tour season, losing the Players Championship on the final hole only to win the Valspar a week later before taking down Scottie Scheffler just seven days ago in Hilton Head. He’s now the No. 3 player in the world. But Sunday? Sunday was different. Because on the 18th green at TPC Louisiana, a giddily cheesing Matt Fitzpatrick outstretched his arms to find his 27-year-old little brother, Alex, hands in his face, coming to terms with the fact that he just earned a PGA Tour card. They didn’t make it easy — giving away a four-shot lead with messy play on the back nine — yet those struggles served as prologue to Matt’s epic bunker shot on 18 and a tap-in putt by Alex to win the Zurich Classic on Sunday. The lone team event on the PGA Tour was just won by two brothers, wrapping up perhaps the month of their lives. “I think that’s as good as it gets, isn’t it?” Alex said. “Yeah, I mean, it’s hard to describe,” Matt joined in. Matt Fitzpatrick plays it beautifully to set up for birdie and the win @Zurich_Classic. pic.twitter.com/FAnaC08xEE — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 26, 2026 Here’s the last five weeks for the Fitzpatrick family. It’s even better than you realize. • March 15: Matt Fitzpatrick finishes second at the Players. • March 22: Matt wins the Valspar Championship. • March 29: Alex wins the Hero Indian Open, his first career European Tour win. • March 31: Matt and his wife, Katherine, announce they’re expecting their first child. • April 19: Matt wins the RBC Heritage, a signature event, for a second win in three starts. • April 26: The Fitzpatrick brothers win the Zurich together, and Alex accepts an invitation to join the PGA Tour. Yes, everything is coming up Fitzpatrick. Alex has always maintained a complicated relationship with being the younger brother of an international star, one filled with both joy and frustration. He’s been present for so much of Matt’s rise, even caddying for Matt when he broke on the scene by winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur. Matt then won the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline, and every spring since, Alex has drawn attention by playing the Zurich Classic with Matt, politely but begrudgingly answering questions about being the less-talented brother. Back then, he was playing on the European development tour and ranked No. 705 in the world. But Netflix documentary cameras followed as Alex earned his way into the 2023 Open Championship and pulled off an impressive T17. And quietly in the three years since, Alex has improved from a golfer on the fringes to a 27-year-old ranked No. 101 in the world on DataGolf. On the back nine Sunday, it was Alex who kept the Fitzpatrick brothers afloat. The duo entered the final round with a four-shot lead after a record-breaking 57 in fourball Saturday. But on No. 12, Matt’s drive left Alex behind a tree, and Alex’s punch out went right into another tree to set up a double bogey. Then, on 13, Matt’s short wedge shot flew the green by 60 feet. Alex hit a masterful chip to save par, but Matt put his tee shot into a bunker for a bogey a hole later. “It was a struggle,” Matt said with a laugh. “I was doing absolutely zero to help him. Apart from the putt I made on 15 there, I wasn’t really providing much support.” They entered the par-5 18th hole all tied up. So it was all too perfect on 18, standing in the greenside bunker with his brother’s PGA Tour hopes on the line, that Matt hit an unbelievable spinny pitch that stuck two feet from the pin. Not only did Matt hit the incredible shot to possibly set his brother up for life-changing opportunities, but he also made it so Alex could tap in the final putt. For Matt, it just adds one more chapter to the best few months of his career. Even when he won the U.S. Open and made four European Ryder Cup teams, he was a very good but limited player. Right now, with three wins in four starts and a runner-up at the Players, he’s the hottest golfer in the world. But let’s be honest. Sunday was hardly about Matt. It was about Matt and Alex, two brothers who had their moment in the spotlight. And if you’re wondering if there’s any ambiguity about whether or not Alex will accept the Tour invite, don’t fret. “I signed as quick as I could,” Alex said. “I’m still shaking, yeah, it was crazy.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms