AVONDALE, La. — Matt Fitzpatrick, who recently won the RBC Heritage, joined his younger brother Alex to shoot an 8-under 64 in Thursday’s best golf match at the Zurich Classic, leaving the two Englishmen six shots behind Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer.
Smalley and Springer tied the tournament record with 58.
Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, who put together the most successful team at the par-72 TPC Louisiana this week, shot 66 and were outside the 40 and in danger of missing the cut – unless they make a strong push on Friday with another play.
The format reverts to better ball on Saturday and back to alternative ball on Sunday.
Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat shot back after a round in which they followed Eckroat’s eagle on the par-5 seventh with eight straight birdies.
Two teams tied for third at 60: Sam Stevens and Zach Bauchou, and Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda. Billy Horschel — the only player to win Zurich in a singles and team format — was in the hunt again after he and Tom Hoge shot 61s to put them seven ways out of fifth place.
Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala each made an eagle — the first with a 106-yard spin on the par-4 13th — and posted a 62.
Smalley, who has never won on the PGA Tour, made a 19-foot eagle putt on the par-5 to grab second after sinking a 16 1/2-footer to bridge No.
The 29-year-old American pair then hit 10 of the last 14 birdies. Springer, also seeking a maiden tour berth, made the final four birdies, highlighted by his 36-foot putt on the par-3 17th.
A large gallery gathered on the first hole to watch the Fitzpatricks tee off with Lowry and Koepka on a sunny, breezy, 80-degree afternoon.
Koepka — in his first season back on the PGA Tour after four years with LIV Golf — entered the week needing a good showing to earn his first release at the signature event, next week at Trump National Doral in Miami.
Lowry carried their team early, with birdies on five of the first eight holes. Koepka finally chipped in with a 31 1/2-foot birdie putt on the 10th, but the pair didn’t get much better either way.
