Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry enjoyed an “absolutely amazing” week in New Orleans – as the major-winning pair clinched victory at the Zurich Classic in a play-off
Rory McIlroy celebrated winning the Zurich Classic with Shane Lowry by singing Journey’s iconic track ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ on karaoke and enjoying a well-earned beer.
McIlroy and Lowry claimed victory in the team event in New Orleans after beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off. Ramey and Trainer set the clubhouse lead on 25-under before McIlroy and Lowry birdied the last hole to post the same score.
McIlroy and Lowry then parred the play-off hole, but Ramey and Trainer failed to follow suit. It’s Lowry’s first victory on the PGA Tour since winning the Open Championship in 2019, with McIlroy also ending a nine-month wait to be triumphant on the circuit.
It was a sweet victory for the Irish pair, who are close friends and used to playing with each other in Ryder Cup for Team Europe. McIlroy and Lowry started their celebrations by opening a bottle of beer and getting on stage in Louisiana.
McIlroy then started singing Journey’s famous song with a live band behind him, with Lowry laughing next to him. Lowry wasn’t filmed singing and joked on X: “Couldn’t get a word in.”
McIlroy’s antics didn’t stop there, as he also chugged a beer on stage. Lowry went on to post a picture of him enjoying a beer with his playing partner, who now has 25 wins on the PGA Tour, with the caption: “Team work makes (the) dream work.”
The victory comes at a great time for both golfers, with the PGA Championship, the US Open and the Open Champion all coming up in the next three months. McIlroy will be particularly keen to end his 10-year wait for a major title in 2024.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” McIlroy told CBS Sports after clinching victory. “We’ve had an awesome week here in New Orleans. The crowds have been absolutely amazing, to get the support we’ve had out there. We’ve had so much fun while doing it and it’s just a bonus to win at the end. It couldn’t be better than to do it with this man alongside me.”
Lowry, meanwhile, praised McIlroy for producing some of his best golf in New Orleans. He added: “It’s great. It felt much needed. Coming into the week we felt we could do with a big jump for the FedEx Cup, let’s get 400 points each and that’s what we’ve done. I feel a little bit bad taking them because Rory carried me, but I’m taking them!”
The pair were congratulated by Team Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. He posted on X: “Well I joined that boozy lunch in the early evening back in October that led to Rory and Shane partnering up this week. Always brings a smile to see any of my players win – winning together is even better. Well done lads.”