2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Louisiana

A pair of past Ryder Cup teammates are joining forces at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Irishman Shane Lowry and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy got together for a “really drunken lunch” in the offseason, as Rory told Golf.com, and decided to play together.

This will be McIlroy’s first time in the team competition.

These two buddies bring in solid form into the week, though McIlroy is likely unsatisfied with no PGA Tour wins thus far in 2024. He does have one in Dubai on the DP World Tour. McIlroy is up to seven top-33s in a row after T-33rd last week at the RBC Heritage.

The 34-year-old owns a 16-13-4 record at the Ryder Cup overall and is 12-11-3 between four-ball and foursomes.

He’s 20th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (.905) and seventh in SG: Off-the-Tee (.787).

Lowry may have to lean on McIlroy a bit as he hasn’t fared better than T-19th in his past four starts. However, the 37-year-old flashed earlier this year in Florida where he took T-4th at PGA National and solo third at a Signature Event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Lowry at the Ryder Cup is 2-2-2 and 2-2-0 with a partner.

Lowry’s iron game will be a great compliment to McIlroy’s prowess off the tee. Lowry is third on the PGA Tour in SG: Approach (.87).

Lowry is also ninth in SG: Tee-to-Green (1.106).

If at least one of them can get hot with the putter, they’re going to be tough to beat.