The 2025 Zurich Classic Payouts: Winners & Losers

Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin are officially PGA TOUR winners—and significantly wealthier—after clinching their first career titles at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The duo each pocketed a cool $1,329,400, proving that friendship and a solid golf game can indeed be lucrative.​

The tournament reached its climax when Griffin sank a clutch birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole, propelling them to a one-shot victory over the formidable Hojgaard twins, Rasmus and Nicolai. Their final score of 28 under par secured not just the win but also a hefty payday.​

While we were admittedly rooting for the charismatic duo of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry—because who doesn’t enjoy an Irish bromance?—we’re thrilled to see Novak and Griffin’s camaraderie and skill pay off. Their victory at the PGA TOUR’s only team event not only earned them a substantial check but also a place in the spotlight.​

So, here’s to Novak and Griffin: proving that with the right partner, a shared dream, and a few well-timed birdies, you can achieve greatness—and a seven-figure bank deposit.

Our biggest question this AM? Did the victory earn Novak and Griffin spots in the 2025 Masters?

Nope, winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans does not get you a golden ticket to the Masters. Sorry, folks — despite being a legit PGA TOUR event, the Zurich’s “buddy system” format disqualifies it from handing out those shiny Augusta invites. Apparently, the Masters likes its winners flying solo, not with a teammate high-fiving them down the fairway.

To make matters even saltier, Zurich champs don’t get any Official World Golf Ranking points either — because, you know, teamwork isn’t recognized when it comes to individual glory.

BUT don’t feel too bad for them: the Zurich Classic still dishes out plenty of perks. Each winner snags a hefty 400 FedExCup points, a sweet two-year PGA TOUR exemption (golf job security!), and spots in the PGA Championship and all the big Signature Events for the rest of the season.

So basically, they didn’t get a guaranteed chance to win a green jacket… but they did get a pile of cash, a free pass to some huge tournaments, and permanent bragging rights. Not bad for a weekend of synchronized birdie-making.

Winners & Losers from Sunday at the Zurich:

1. Winners: Nicolai and Rasmus. The identical twins from Denmark played solid golf all week, including posting a 4-under alternate shot score Sunday. Did the twins ever fight like other twins we know? Teaming with a twin is HARD. Good for them for figuring out how to do it successfully.
2. Winners: J.T. Poston and Keith Mitchell. This duo saved their best golf for the final round, posting a bogey-free, Sunday best, 7-under-par 65. They leapt 18 spots on the scoreboard, finishing up T-18.
3. Losers: Cam Davis and Adam Svensson. These guys were sniffing the lead all week until they sharded the bed on Sunday. Their final round six-over 78 was the worst score posted by three shots. Ouch. Had they just shot par, which would have still been one of the worst Sunday scores, they would have finished T-12. Instead, they limped home in T-32. Double ouch.
4. Losers: Fans of PGA Tour Stars. The team format is fun to watch, and having Rory and Shane compete near the top of the leaderboard for the week was cool to follow, but the lack of stars in the field chipped away at the luster the event deserves.  
5. Winners: Karl Vilips and Michael Thorbjornsen. These ex-college teammates at Stanford played great golf together, finishing T-4 after a solid 4-under final round. It’s a cool story. Don’t bet against these guys to finish high on the leaderboard for years to come, especially with Vilips winning earlier this year on tour and proving to be an up-and-coming star.

2025 Zurich Classic Prize Money Payouts

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