Rory McIlroy. Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

Three storylines for the Zurich Classic: Rory McIlroy returns

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 1:20 PM ET

The PGA Tour heads to TPC Louisiana this week for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a unique team event on the 2025 schedule. Let's check out the top storylines for the Zurich Classic.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry return to defend their title

After taking a much-deserved week off to celebrate his Masters title with family in Northern Ireland, McIlroy returns to the PGA Tour alongside Lowry to defend their Zurich Classic title. The Irish duo defeated Americans Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a playoff last year to win the team event.

It will be fascinating to see how McIlroy rebounds from the emotional hangover he's dealt with over the last week. This isn't exactly The Masters, so the pressure isn't nearly the same, but a low-stakes team event is the perfect way for McIlroy to begin his tune-up for the PGA Championship in May. McIlroy and Lowry are +360 favorites to win the Zurich Classic (FanDuel).

Joel Dahmen teeing it up after a heartbreaker in the Dominican Republic

An honest interview with Joel Dahmen who finished bogey-bogey-bogey to lose by 1 @CoralesChamp pic.twitter.com/GSXna984NW
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 21, 2025

If you were following Justin Thomas' dramatic win at the RBC Heritage, you likely missed Dahmen choking away a victory at the Corales Puntacana Championship. Dahmen entered the final round with a three-shot lead, but he shot a 4-over 76 on Sunday, bogeying his final three holes to lose to Garrick Higgo by one stroke.

The collapse cost Dahmen his second career win and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, which would've been life-changing for the 37-year-old. Instead, he'll have to keep fighting to keep his PGA Tour card the rest of the season. Dahmen will need to put that heartbreak behind him quickly, as he plans to tee it up at the Zurich Classic alongside Harry Higgs.

Brotherly love in New Orleans

The 2025 Zurich Classic is acting as a family reunion, as three pairs of brothers plan to tee it up in New Orleans this year. You probably know about Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick, who will be playing in the Zurich Classic for the third straight season. So will Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, who will be looking to avenge their missed cut in 2024.

The final pair of brothers in the field will be Yannik and Jeremy Paul from Germany. Jeremy is currently a member of the PGA Tour, but Yannik plays on the DP World Tour and needed a sponsor exemption to crack this field.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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