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Rory McIlroy is absent from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this weekend for the first time in three years, bringing an end to his partnership with close friend Shane Lowry at the popular team event. McIlroy, 36, and Lowry, 39, have joined forces at TPC Louisiana in Avondale for the past two years, lifting the trophy in 2024 during their first year together - which also marked the five-time Major champion's maiden appearance in the tournament - before finishing T12th in 2025.

Since the conclusion of the 2024 season, McIlroy has been scaling back his tournament commitments, and unfortunately the Zurich Classic has now fallen casualty to this trimmed schedule, after it emerged that Lowry would be teaming up with Brooks Koepka this year instead, though the pair ultimately missed the cut.

Given that Lowry's most recent PGA Tour victory came alongside McIlroy at the Zurich Classic two years ago, it represents a notable blow for the Irishman, who has already endured a challenging 2026 campaign. What will likely sting most, however, is the absence of his closest friend by his side at TPC Louisiana this week - a partnership that was born out of a "drunken lunch" the pair shared back in Florida following the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, according to the Irish Star.

"Very excited," McIlroy told Golf.com in 2024 before making his inaugural appearance in the Zurich Classic. "I asked him [Lowry]. We had this really drunken lunch the week after the Ryder Cup last year. I said to him, 'Do you want to play Zurich together?' We're like, 'Yeah.'" As it transpired, McIlroy and Lowry stayed true to their word, and their partnership got off to a flying start as they overcame Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off to claim victory in 2024.

What followed was a memorable celebration complete with karaoke on stage, as McIlroy unleashed his inner rockstar by belting out Journey's classic anthem "Don't Stop Believin'" before demonstrating his infectious party spirit by downing a beer in front of the crowd.

It was a particularly significant triumph for Lowry, marking his first PGA Tour victory since lifting The Open Championship in 2019, while also ending McIlroy's nine-month winless run on the tour. The formidable pairing were unable to reproduce the same magic 12 months on, finishing tied for 12th place and falling six strokes short of winners Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin, though McIlroy still insisted it had been "a fun week".

Last year's tournament took place just a fortnight after McIlroy gloriously completed the Career Slam by clinching the Masters at Augusta National, where he edged out Justin Rose in a gripping play-off to complete his full set of Major titles. Before teeing off at TPC Louisiana with the world number two, Lowry had expressed his astonishment at McIlroy's commitment to playing in New Orleans, but on this occasion, their two-year spell at the event has now come to an end.

Considering the back injury that hampered his preparations for defending his crown at Augusta National earlier this month, it represents a sensible move from McIlroy to take a fortnight's rest following the Masters and guarantee he feels rejuvenated ahead of a three-week period that concludes with the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club next month.