World No. 2 Rory McIlroy and fellow countryman Shane Lowry opened with an 11-under 61 to share the lead with three other teams at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Marks the first time with more than two teams sharing the lead after any round since the event went to a team format in 2017.
Related: Global pathways a springboard for Asian stars to PGA Tour
McIlroy is making his tournament debut, while Lowry is playing for the fifth time (best finish: 13th in 2022 with teammate Ian Poulter).
View this post on Instagram
McIlroy has 24 wins in 246 PGA TOUR starts, with his most recent coming at the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open.
Lowry has two wins in 173 starts (2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, 2019 Open Championship).
View this post on Instagram
Joint first and playing together as a team for the second time, Ryan Brehm (two starts) and Mark Hubbard (six starts) each posted their best finish at the event as teammates in 2022 (T14).
Brehm has one win (2022 Puerto Rico Open) in 129 starts while Hubbard’s T2 at the 2019 Texas Children’s Houston Open is his best finish in 212 starts.
Ben Kohles/Patton Kizzire (T1/-11) are playing together as a team for the first time.
Kohles’ best finish is T5 at the 2023 RSM Classic (66 starts); missed the cut in both Zurich Classic starts (2013, 2022).
Kizzire has two wins in 231 starts (2017 World Wide Technology Championship, 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii); finished T5 in 2017 (with teammate Jason Dufner) for his best finish in five Zurich Classic starts.
Aaron Rai/David Lipsky (T1/-11) are playing together as a team for the third time (T4/2022, T13/2023).
Rai is in search of his first victory in his 79th start, with a T3 at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open his best finish.
Lipsky is seeking his first victory in his 94th start, with his best finishes (T4) coming at the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii.
Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (T29/-7) recorded a first-round 7-under 65 to remain the only team to carry the first-round lead/co-lead on to victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, winning in wire-to-wire fashion in 2022.
Seeking to become the first team to successfully defend their title, Nick Hardy/Davis Riley (T44/-6) opened with a 6-under 66.
