In a special two-man format, Matt Fitzpatrick and his younger brother Alex delivered a dramatic finish at the Zurich Classic, something the former is becoming more and more accustomed to.

Matt’s downright ridiculous bunker shot on the par-5 18th at TPC Louisiana set up a tap-in birdie for Alex, a putt which Alex calmly rolled in to capture the title by one stroke. The image of Matt embracing Alex on the 18th green is evident the win meant a lot to the boys and their family. Splitting a $US2.745 million cheque probably helps as well.

Alex, who came into the week on a sponsor exemption, suddenly “earned a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour” with that win. A shortcut to full Tour status. Slide a top star in alongside a friend (or relative), win the event, and bingo, your buddy (or in this case, brother) gets a Tour card.

It isn’t ground-breaking stuff, a sponsor’s invite getting a win on the PGA Tour, it happens. Most recently, Michael Brennan won the Bank of Utah Championship in 2025. Before him, Nick Dunlap won as an amateur at the American Express in 2024.

They just did it solo. 72 holes, hitting their own ball.

The Zurich Classic became a team format in 2017 and invites 80 pairs of players - a “host” pro who is qualified by PGA Tour ranking and a partner who must already hold Tour status or enter on a sponsor exemption. They play alternating rounds of four-ball and foursomes. The ultimate prize for winning the tournament is huge: 400 FedEx Cup points and a two-year PGA Tour exemption (no Masters invite or world-ranking points, but a guaranteed two-year tour card). The victory handed Alex exactly what the rulebook promised, a Tour membership through 2028.

Alex wasn’t a passenger in this, nor is he a struggling professional riding his brother’s coattails. Only weeks before, he had surged to win the Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour by five shots; he was in top form.

This kind of pairing isn’t unheard of, but is it fair?

Some critics will label it a shortcut. How can handing a slot to a friend square with the idea of “earning” a card? On the flip side, this is an official Tour event and both team-mates must play well against a field of 80 teams. You still have to go out and win the golf tournament.

Foursomes – or alternate-shot in the U.S - days punish any weak link. The Tour treats a Zurich victory just like any other title. By the established rules, if you win, you get the standard winner’s benefits.

The Zurich Classic has become a unique “ticket” to a tour card. It is a feature of the event, though, not a loophole. Alex Fitzpatrick earned his status in full PGA Tour fashion - by winning a tournament.

It can feel like a cheat code to outsiders, but it’s one laid out in black and white. Any player who enters knows the stakes. You can’t win by yourself; it’s a massive team effort. Anybody who has played team golf knows this. The rule is simple, and if a stellar partner can give a friend a leg up, that’s the gamble of the sponsor exemption.

Ultimately, the card on the line in New Orleans is the reward for winning, just as it would be in any individual event. Win, and you get the card, whatever the format.