When Brooks Koepka agreed to terms for his PGA Tour return earlier this year, access to the biggest tournaments was not included. But that could all change this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
In four days at arguably the least serious event of the year, Koepka has a chance to make his PGA Tour comeback a success and set himself up for a run at the FedEx Cup title.
Here’s how.
Zurich Classic win would bring Brooks Koepka big returns
This week’s Zurich Classic may feel more like an exhibition than an official PGA Tour event, but the stakes are very real. Just ask Koepka.
Koepka made a deal to return to the PGA Tour this season, but that deal did not include automatic access to Signature Events. He was also barred from accepting sponsor’s exemptions into those big-money events. The five-time major champion and former LIV Golf pro would have to play his way into the Tour’s biggest tournaments.
That left Koepka waiting on the patio of the Harbour Town clubhouse last week as the first alternate in the RBC Heritage field, hoping a last-minute WD would earn him a spot.
It didn’t.
But if Koepka, who is teaming up with Shane Lowry this week, wins the Zurich Classic, his reality changes. Though the Zurich Classic is a team event, both winning team members get the same rewards as they would at a normal Tour event. Namely, a two-year PGA Tour exemption, a spot in the PGA Championship and tee times at all Signature Events.
While Koepka is already exempt for the PGA Championship thanks to his three PGA victories, gaining access to the Signature Events would be a big coup. Suddenly, he would have spots in the upcoming Cadillac Championship, May’s Truist Championship and the Memorial and Travelers Championship in June, all of which offer $20 million purses and increased FedEx Cup points.
It would also allow Koepka to relax and focus on winning, rather than spending time worrying about Tour status and tournament eligibility.
Then there’s the money. A victory this week would earn both him and Lowry $1.3 million. As for the FedEx Cup, each player would receive 400 points for a Zurich win. That would more than double Koepka’s current total of 302. It would also improve his FedEx Cup ranking from 57th to potentially inside the top 30. That would put him in line for a spot in the Tour Championship. Though Koepka is barred from earning FedEx Cup bonus payouts due to the Returning Member Program, he can still take home any winnings he earns from the Tour Championship and other playoff events.
Interestingly, Koepka’s teammate this week has experience in this department. In 2024, Lowry teamed with Rory McIlroy to win the Zurich Classic. It was Lowry’s first win in five years proved vital to maintain his Tour status and eligibility.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s brother Alex could earn PGA Tour card at Zurich Classic
Koepka isn’t the only player with a lot on the line at the Zurich Classic. Any player in the field who is struggling in the FedEx Cup department could earn career security for the next two years.
Other pros could go from having zero PGA Tour status to full status. Alex Fitzpatrick is one of those players.
Fitzpatrick currently plays on the DP World Tour, where he recently earned his first victory at the Hero Indian Open. This week, he not only gets to play in a PGA Tour event, but he gets to do so alongside the hottest player in the game.
That would be his older brother, Matt Fitzpatrick. Matt rose to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking with his second win of the season at the RBC Heritage. He won’t have to worry about his PGA Tour status for a long time.
But by winning this week, he could help his brother Alex make his PGA Tour dreams come true with full status for two seasons.
