Career Grand Slam Winner McIlroy Teams Up for Two-Player Event

Teaming Up with Lowry for Zurich Classic Team Event
Riding High After Masters Win, McIlroy Aims for Second Straight Victory
Kim Siwoo, Eighth at RBC Heritage, Partners with Bae Sangmoon

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who has achieved a career Grand Slam, is now aiming for a second consecutive victory.

The battleground is the Zurich Classic, a two-player team event on the PGA Tour with a total prize fund of $9.2 million. From April 24 (local time), the tournament will take place over four days at TPC Louisiana (par 72, 7,425 yards) in Avondale, Louisiana, USA. McIlroy will team up with Shane Lowry of Ireland for the event.

Rory McIlroy challenges for a second consecutive win at the Zurich Classic. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The Zurich Classic is a team event in which two players compete as a pair. The first and third rounds are played in the four-ball format, where both players play their own ball and the better score counts. The second and fourth rounds are played in the foursomes format, in which the two players alternate shots with a single ball.

Because the Zurich Classic is a team event, the prize money is split between the two players, and only 400 FedExCup points are awarded to the winners. As a result, top-tier players do not frequently participate. This year, 160 players forming 80 teams will compete. Only the top 33 teams after the second round will advance to the third and fourth rounds.

On April 13, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by defeating Justin Rose of England in a playoff at the Masters Tournament, thus capturing all four major championships. He is on a remarkable upward trajectory this year, with three wins and four top-10 finishes in six events. He currently ranks first in the FedExCup standings, prize money, and scoring average. His chances of winning are higher than ever.

Among Korean players, Kim Siwoo and Bae Sangmoon will compete as a team. Kim Siwoo finished tied for eighth at last week's PGA RBC Heritage. After leading through the third round but missing out on the win, he is determined to make up for that disappointment in this tournament.