Novak & Griffin Win Zurich Classic As Mcilroy & Lowry Fade

Zurich Classic - fourth-round leaderboard

-28 B Griffin & A Novak (US); -27 N Hojgaard & R Hojaard (Den); -26 J Knapp & Capan III (US); -25 M Thorbjornsen & Vilips (US/AUS) -25 H Crowe & T Dickson (AUS/US), D Lipsky, D Wu (US), L List & H Norlander (US/Swe)

Selected others: -22 R McIlroy & S Lowry (NI/Ire), -21 A Rai & S Theegala (Eng/US), -19 D Skinns & B Taylor (Eng); -16 R MacIntyre & T Detry (Sco/Bel)

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry faltered successful their bid to triumph back-to-back Zurich Classic of New Orleans titles arsenic American brace Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin claimed their first PGA Tour win.

Starting nan alternate-shot last information 5 shots disconnected nan lead, McIlroy and Lowry changeable two-under 34 connected nan beforehand nine, but stumbled pinch bogeys astatine 13, 15 and 17 aft play resumed pursuing a 90-minute upwind delay.

With a birdie connected nan last, McIlroy and Lowry carded a closing even-par 72 to decorativeness successful a necktie for 12th.

As McIlroy, playing for nan first clip since winning nan Masters, and Lowry faded connected nan backmost nine, a three-way conflict emerged successful nan closing stages.

Novak and Griffin, who held a three-shot lead aft 3 rounds, vanished powerfully to clinch a one-shot triumph complete Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard.

The overnight leaders were tied astatine -27 pinch different American brace successful Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III earlier a decisive two-shot plaything connected nan par-three 17th.

While Knapp and Capan III made bogey aft uncovering water, Griffin holed a superb birdie putt from nan backmost of nan greenish to found a two-stroke cushion pinch 1 spread left.

The Hojgaard brothers birdied nan par-five 18th to paper a four-under 68, but vanished 1 changeable awkward arsenic Novak and Griffin made par for a winning 71.

It was a peculiarly satisfying triumph for Novak, who mislaid to Justin Thomas successful a play-off astatine past week's RBC Heritage.