Golf is usually a lonely sport. You miss a putt, you're the one stewing. You shank a drive into the Bayou, that’s on your conscience. But the Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard feels different because it’s the only time on the PGA Tour where you actually have a shoulder to lean on—or a partner to accidentally let down.
TPC Louisiana is basically a playground for these guys, but the pressure of playing for someone else changes the math. Honestly, watching the 2025 finish, you could see it on their faces. Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin weren't just playing for a trophy; they were playing for each other's careers.
The 2025 Breakthrough Nobody Expected
Let’s be real. Most people were looking at Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry to repeat. They had the momentum, the "defending champion" vibe, and a gallery that followed them like they were the Beatles. But the Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard had other plans.
Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin basically stole the show. They finished at 28-under par, a massive 260 total. It wasn't some runaway victory, though. It was a grind. They headed into Sunday with a three-shot cushion, but that evaporated faster than a cold drink in the Louisiana humidity.
Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III were breathing down their necks. At one point, they were actually tied. Then came the 17th hole—a par 3 that has ruined many a Sunday. Ben Griffin drained a 35-footer for birdie that basically silenced the field. It gave them a two-shot lead with one to play, and even though Novak’s tee shot on the last hole gave everyone a heart attack by flirting with the water, they held on for a one-shot win.
Why This Win Changed Everything
Winning this event isn't just about the $1,329,400 each. It’s about the "what comes next." For Novak and Griffin, this was their first PGA Tour win. That carries a two-year exemption. It gets you into the PGA Championship. It punches your ticket to the Signature Events.
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You've gotta appreciate the irony: the most "relaxed" team event on the calendar provides the most rigid job security in professional golf.
Breaking Down the Final Scores
If you look at the top of the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard, it was a mix of seasoned stars and "who's that?" pairs.
- 1st Place: Andrew Novak / Ben Griffin (-28) – $1,329,400 each
- 2nd Place: Nicolai Højgaard / Rasmus Højgaard (-27) – $542,800 each
- 3rd Place: Jake Knapp / Frankie Capan III (-26) – $355,350 each
- T4: Trace Crowe / Taylor Dickson (-25)
- T4: David Lipsky / Dylan Wu (-25)
- T4: Luke List / Henrik Norlander (-25)
- T4: Michael Thorbjornsen / Karl Vilips (-25)
The Højgaard twins almost pulled off the ultimate sibling story. Nicolai made a 42-foot bomb on the 14th to keep them in it, but they just couldn't find one more birdie on the closing stretch.
And Rory? Rory and Shane Lowry sort of faded. They were right there through 12 holes on Sunday, only three back. Then the wheels came off with three late bogeys. They ended up T12 at 22-under. Still a respectable check, but not what the fans in the mud-stained Fedoras were hoping for.
The Format: Foursomes vs. Four-balls
This is where the leaderboard gets wonky. You’ll see scores of 60 on Thursday and then 71 on Friday. No, they didn't all forget how to play golf overnight. It's the format.
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Rounds 1 and 3 are Four-ball (Best Ball). Both guys play their own ball, and the best score on the hole counts. This is why you see those crazy low numbers. If one guy messes up, the other guy usually has a birdie look.
Rounds 2 and 4 are Foursomes (Alternate Shot). This is the brutal one. You hit, your partner hits, you hit again. It’s a marriage test on grass. If you put your partner in a greenside bunker, they have to get you out. This is why the leaderboard shifts so much on Friday and Sunday. It’s much harder to go low when you’re only hitting half the shots.
TPC Louisiana: The Pete Dye Factor
You can't talk about the Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard without mentioning the course. TPC Louisiana is a Pete Dye design. If you know anything about Dye, you know he loves "visual intimidation."
The course sits on 250 acres of wetlands. It’s flat, but it’s treacherous. There are over 100 bunkers. There are massive waste areas. And then there's the water. The 18th hole is a par 5 with water all down the right side. It tempts you to go for it in two, but one small mistake and you're making a 7 while your partner watches in horror.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Points
Here is the weird part that trips up casual fans. Winning the Zurich Classic gives you 400 FedEx Cup points each. That’s a lot. But—and this is a big but—it gives you zero Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
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The OWGR gurus decided years ago that because it's a team event, it doesn't fit their mathematical model. So, while Novak and Griffin skyrocketed up the FedEx Cup standings, their world ranking didn't move an inch. It's a bit of a slap in the face, but when you're holding a check for 1.3 million bucks, you probably don't care about your ranking in the mid-100s.
Surprising Stats from the 2025 Field
- The Cut Line: It fell at 10-under par. If you weren't lighting it up on the Best Ball days, you were heading home early.
- Weather Factor: We had a 90-minute delay on Sunday. Usually, that kills momentum. For Novak and Griffin, they said it actually helped them calm down.
- Twin Power: The Højgaards were the first set of twins to finish in the top 2 in the history of this team format.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're tracking the Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard for betting or just for fun next year, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Friday Move: Teams that survive the Alternate Shot on Friday with a decent score are the ones to watch. Anyone can go low in Best Ball, but the grinders win on Friday.
- Check the "Vibe": This sounds unscientific, but look at the pairings. Friends play better together than two random guys paired by an agent. Novak and Griffin grew up playing junior golf together in the Carolinas. That comfort level matters when you're standing over a 4-foot par putt that belongs to your buddy.
- The 17th is the Key: Don't look at the 18th as the decider. Most of the movement on the leaderboard happens at the par-3 17th. It's a nervy shot over water, and in 2025, it was exactly where the tournament was won.
The Zurich Classic isn't a Major. It’s not a Signature Event. But it’s the most "human" tournament we have. You see the stress of teamwork and the joy of shared success. When Andrew Novak hugged Ben Griffin on that 18th green, it wasn't just a win for the stats—it was a win for a friendship that started on some random practice green years ago.
For those looking to follow the leaderboard in real-time next year, make sure to check the PGA Tour's official "TourCast" which lets you see every shot from both players in the pairing. It's the only way to truly understand how a team is managing the alternate-shot pressure.
Next Steps for the 2026 Season: Keep an eye on the early April commitments. The strength of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans leaderboard depends entirely on which "Super Teams" decide to pair up. If you see two Top-10 players together, they are the favorites, but history shows that the "Best Friend" pairings like Novak and Griffin often have the edge over the "All-Star" pairings.
For more updates on the PGA Tour schedule and player rankings, visit the official PGA Tour site.