Matt Fitzpatrick Wins Back-to-Back: Zurich Classic Victory Cements 2026 PGA Tour Dominance

Matt Fitzpatrick Is the Hottest Player in Golf Right Now

One week after beating Scottie Scheffler in a playoff to win the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, Matt Fitzpatrick teamed with his younger brother Alex to win the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana. The pair finished at 31 under par, four clear of Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin, with Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy finishing third at 25 under.

The win is Fitzpatrick's third on the PGA Tour in 2026. He also claimed the Valspar Championship earlier in the season. He is now the first Englishman to win three times in a single PGA Tour season, and the first player to win back-to-back events since Scheffler went on one of his stretches of dominance. Fitzpatrick moved to third in the world rankings following the RBC Heritage win and is firmly in the conversation as the best player in the world right now.

How the Fitzpatricks Won the Zurich Classic

The Zurich Classic runs a unique format: foursomes (alternate shot) on Thursday and Saturday, best ball on Friday and Sunday. The Fitzpatrick brothers were steady through the first three rounds but truly caught fire in Sunday's best ball format, firing a tournament-record 57 (-15) to take a commanding lead into the clubhouse.

Alex Fitzpatrick's role in the final-hole drama cannot be understated. Matt stuck a bunker shot to within a foot of the cup on the par-5 18th, and Alex drained the putt to seal the title. Beyond the family storyline, the practical result is that Alex earned his PGA Tour card for the upcoming season. Matt gave his brother a life-changing week, while adding another trophy to what is becoming one of the great individual seasons in recent PGA Tour memory.

Notable names who missed the cut include Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry (individually, as they paired with different partners). Rory McIlroy and Lowry as a pair finished third, showing McIlroy still has real form despite falling short.

What Three Wins Mean for Fitzpatrick's 2026 Season

With three wins already, Fitzpatrick has almost certainly locked up his PGA Tour card status through the end of the FedEx Cup playoffs. More meaningfully, he is building a case as the favorite heading into the major championship season.

The US Open is the next major on the calendar. Fitzpatrick won the US Open at Brookline in 2022, so the tournament holds obvious emotional weight for him. His current form, his ball-striking consistency, and his ability to grind in playoff situations make him a compelling betting target for the majors that remain.

His current world ranking at third positions him right behind Scheffler and Jon Rahm (or whichever player sits second at the time of each event's odds release). However, given back-to-back wins, bettors and DFS players should expect his odds to shorten considerably.

The Fantasy and DFS Angle

For DFS and tournament picks, Fitzpatrick is now in the "must-roster" tier at virtually any event he enters. His scoring average over his last six rounds is elite, and his short game, already one of the best on tour, was on full display in New Orleans with that clutch bunker shot on 18.

For PGA DFS purposes, his salary will reflect this form run. The contrarian play at any upcoming event is to continue fading the field's instinct to stack cheaper options and simply pay for Fitzpatrick. His floor has risen substantially over the past three weeks. Unless he announces a planned absence or schedule change, he should be treated as a core piece in cash games and a high-upside pivot in tournaments.

Bettors should also watch for Fitzpatrick's odds at the Byron Nelson and Charles Schwab Challenge, the next two events before the US Open. His confidence is at a level that suggests no slowdown is imminent.

Brother Alex: A New Name to Watch

Alex Fitzpatrick earned his PGA Tour card through this result. Do not overlook the younger Fitzpatrick as a value DFS target once he is fully on tour. He played under pressure on Sunday and delivered when it mattered most. His alternate shot game was clean throughout the week, and his best ball scoring alongside one of the world's best was genuinely impressive.

Alex is not yet a household name at sportsbooks, which means his opening odds at upcoming events will reflect that obscurity. Early-season DFS value often comes from players with proven talent who enter at depressed prices due to limited tour history. Watch for Alex on the Korn Ferry Tour or in any PGA Tour starts he earns through this result.

What Comes Next

Matt Fitzpatrick's 2026 campaign is one of the most compelling individual stories in golf this year. Three wins, a world top-3 ranking, back-to-back victories, and a major-winning pedigree make him the clearest bet on the tour right now. Whether you are placing pre-tournament futures or building weekend DFS lineups, his name needs to be at the top of your research.