Irish pair McIlroy, Lowry win PGA's Zurich Classic

Staff WritersPress Association
Camera IconRory McIlroy is enjoying the 25th PGA Tour title win of his career after success in Louisiana. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have come through a playoff to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

At the end of Monday's (AEST) fourth round, Lowry made the most of a superb chip on to the 18th green by McIlroy by sinking a birdie putt and extend the contest as they joined Martin Trainer and Chad Ramey on 25 under at TPC Louisiana.

The American pair had been among the early starters, powering 26 places up the leaderboard with a round of 63 that included seven birdies on the back nine, but the near three-hour wait to see if their score would hold up saw them come into the playoff looking rusty.

And after Ramey pulled his second shot left and on to a road, Trainer came up short in his effort to reach the green.

That gave Ryder Cup teammates McIlroy and Lowry the advantage, despite the latter having found sand with his second shot. After Lowry missed a putt for par, they needed Trainer to narrowly miss his own putt to confirm their win - McIlroy's 25th career PGA Tour victory.

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"It's absolutely amazing," McIlroy said on CBS Sports.

"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."

The Irish tandem closed with a four-under 68.

"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," Lowry said.

"I feel a little bit bad taking them because Rory carried me, but I'm taking them."

Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard finished third at 24 under with defending champions Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin 10th after their final-round 71 left them at 21 under.

With AP.

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