After his Masters victory, Rory McIlroy expressed deep satisfaction, saying he felt he was in the best place in his life, both personally and professionally. However, fans had hoped to see his momentum continue with more wins. Heading into the Zurich Classic, expectations were high, but the performance of McIlroy and his teammate Shane Lowry didn’t match the early excitement. After two rounds, the pair was tied for 16th place, significantly trailing the leaders who had set course records.
Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry close with an even-par 72 to finish T12 in bid to become the first team to successfully defend their title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) April 27, 2025
The duo managed an impressive comeback in the third round, posting a strong score of 61, which included eight birdies and an eagle. This raised fans’ hopes for a title defense. Unfortunately, their final round produced only two birdies, and their chances slipped away. Ultimately, they lost to Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin.
Reflecting on the tournament, Shane Lowry remained positive, sharing his gratitude and saying, “I think we played all right, just today nothing really happened for us, and then after the delay, everything that could go wrong did go wrong.” He expressed that despite the result, he had a great time competing alongside McIlroy and appreciated the experience.
Meanwhile, McIlroy outlined his upcoming schedule. He mentioned he would be taking some time off, using the next couple of weeks to practice and reset. Although he has participated in just seven events this year, he has already claimed victory in three of them, demonstrating strong form even with a limited schedule.
Following the Zurich Classic, McIlroy is preparing for his next challenge: the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club, a course where he has an outstanding record. Formerly known as the Wells Fargo Championship, McIlroy has won there four times. His first win came in 2010, making him the youngest player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to achieve such a feat. He followed it up with dominant victories in 2015 and again in 2021.
Now, as the defending champion at Quail Hollow—though under the tournament’s new name—McIlroy hopes to bounce back and add another title to his illustrious career. Given his history at this “fortress,” fans are eager to see if he can regain his winning form.