Fresh off his RBC Heritage victory, Matt Fitzpatrick teamed up with his younger brother Alex, turning in an impressive 8-under 64 in the Four-ball format during Thursday's Zurich Classic. Despite their strong performance, they remained six strokes adrift of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who equaled a tournament record with a sensational 58.
Seasoned players Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka faced challenges, their 66 placing them outside the top 40. They'll need to deliver strong performances in Friday's Foursomes to avoid missing the cut.
The format transitions back to Four-ball on Saturday, with Foursomes concluding on Sunday.
Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat trailed merely by one stroke, showcasing a sequence of eight consecutive birdies following Eckroat’s eagle on the seventh hole.
Sitting tied for third at 60 were the pairings of Stevens/Bouchou and Cole/Lebioda. In a thrilling chase, Horschel, a former champion here, alongside Hoge, maintained a competitive pace with their 61, positioning them in a large tie for fifth.
Smalley, who seeks his maiden PGA TOUR title, opened with a stunning eagle on the par-5 second hole, following a birdie on the first. His shot precision continued, enabling further birdies, while Springer supported with critical putts, including a remarkable 12-meters on the 17th.