AVONDALE, La. — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have officially announced their return to the Zurich Classic this spring, aiming to defend the title they secured in 2024 at the PGA Tour’s unique team competition, as confirmed by tournament organizers on Thursday.

The duo from Ireland staged an impressive late-game comeback during last year’s Zurich Classic, equalizing the score with Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer before ultimately clinching victory in a playoff. This triumph marked McIlroy’s debut in New Orleans, and both he and Lowry attracted large crowds at the renowned TPC Louisiana, designed by Pete Dye.

It was expected that McIlroy, hailing from Northern Ireland, and Lowry would want to defend their crown, and organizers were pleased to solidify their commitment for the 2025 tournament.

With McIlroy leading a compelling lineup for the 2024 Zurich Classic, which will also feature the team of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, organizers are projecting a record attendance of around 116,000 throughout the tournament duration.

Earlier this month, McIlroy celebrated his 27th career victory on the PGA Tour at Pebble Beach, while Lowry finished a close second, just two strokes behind.