3-TIME PGA TOUR WINNER SEPP STRAKA TEAMS WITH 2-TIME WINNER BRICE GARNETT IN 2025 ZURICH CLASSIC

They join Masters champ Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry who will defend their title

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 16, 2025)—Austrian player Sepp Straka, ranked 17^th in the world and second in FedExCup points, has teamed with two-time PGA Tour winner Brice Garnett in this year’s  Zurich Classic of New Orleans, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“Sepp Straka has won multiple titles and has both Ryder Cup and Olympic experience,” said Worthy. “Brice Garnett has also won twice on the Tour, so they have experience closing out golf tournaments,” he added.

Newly crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy, second in the world rankings and first in FedExCup points, has teamed again with Shane Lowry, ranked 15^th in the world, to defend their title in this year’s Zurich Classic. They will be joined by Collin Morikawa, fourth in both world ranking and FedExCup points, playing with Kurt Kitayama in the event April 24-27.

Straka won The American Express earlier this year and continues to play solid golf. In 10 starts, he has posted seven top-25 finishes, of which three have been top-10s. In addition to his victory in January, he tied for seventh in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and tied for fifth in the Arnold Palmer Invitation presented by Mastercard. Both tournaments were so-called signature events on the Tour.

He earned his first career victory in 2022 at The Honda Classic, becoming the first player from Austria to win on the PGA Tour. He began playing on the Tour in the 2018-19 season and became one of eight rookies to make the FedExCup Playoffs.

In 2023 he finished tied for seventh in the PGA Championship and tied for second in The Open Championship

He and Garnett partnered to finish tied for 11^th in last year’s Zurich Classic.

Straka was a member of the 2023 Ryder Cup team that defeated the U.S. in Rome. He has also represented Austria twice in Olympic golf. In the 2024 Paris Olympics he finished tied for 35^th. He finished 10^th in the 2020 Olympics after leading the first round with a 63, tied for the lowest score in Olympic golf history.

Straka’s partner Brice Garnett has won twice on the PGA Tour, most recently the 2024 Puerto Rico Open when he won a playoff against Erik Barnes.

So far this season, his best finish was a tie for 11^th at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.

In 2018, he won the  Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship wire-to-wire after a 63 in the first round.

Later that season, he teamed with Chesson Hadley to lead at 22-under during the final round of the Zurich Classic, but they were overtaken on  the back nine to finish tied for fourth. The partnership with Hadley was made up of the top two finishers on the combined 2017 Korn Ferry Tour regular season and finals money list.

About Fore!Kids Foundation:

 Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and several charitable golf tournaments.

In 2024, the Fore!Kids Foundation generated a record $3.3 million in charitable giving for children’s charities in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas. Charitable contributions have been rising in recent years:

• $3.3 million in 2024
• Over $22.9 Million to charities in last 10 years
• Over $51 Million to charities since inception