Being surrounded by family for the week made life enjoyable for the Fitzpatrick brothers, Alex and Matt. So much so that after a third-round 57 gave them the lead in the team format Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Alex was as focused on that as he was the golf.
“Amazing,” Alex said of the semi-reunion. “I don't think you can put it into words. For me it feels like no matter what happens tomorrow, it's going to be a great week regardless.”
Thankfully for Alex, who plays primarily on the DP World Tour, and Matt, the “regardless” wasn’t needed as the pair won the event by one shot, although it was not without angst.
Cruising with a four-shot lead, propelled by a birdie on the par-5 11th where Alex knocked a lob wedge to 11 feet and Matt converted the putt in the final-round alternate-shot format. An ensuing double-bogey and bogey with a sporty par save sandwiched between left things knotted. Things stayed there when another huge Alex pitch, Matt putt par save at 15 kept them tied at the top. Finally, the brothers broke the tie at the last, Matt knocking a 35-yard bunker shot to a foot on the par 5 and Alex knocking in the walk-off birdie putt.
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Alex’s wedges are Titleist Vokey SM10s in his 46-, 50- and 56-degree and a Vokey WedgeWorks SM11 60-degree. In something everyday players can learn from, Alex uses the same shafts in his two lowest-lofted wedges as in his irons (Nippon NS Pro Modus 3 Tour 120X) and True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 in the higher lofts. The rationale being the lower lofts are almost exclusively full-swing clubs for Alex.
On the greens, Matt wielded the same Bettinardi DASS 1 Flow blade he used to win at Harbour Town. The putter employs a grooved face that is a mirror image of the Yes! Tracy II model he used when he was 16 years old. Fitzpatrick’s putter is 34 inches long with a Bettinardi T-Hive Winn grip. The loft is 2.5 degrees.
What Alex Fitzpatrick had in the bag at the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Driver: Ping G440 LST (Fujikura Ventus Black 6X), 9 degrees
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (46, 50, 56 degrees); Titleist Vokey SM11 WedgeWorks (60 degrees)
What Matt Fitzpatrick had in the bag at the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Driver: Titleist GT3 (Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 65 TX), 9 degrees
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (48, 52.5, 56, 61.5 degrees)