The 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans teed off on Thursday, April 24, at TPC Louisiana—under blazing sunshine and amidst a firestorm of controversy. This beloved two-man team event on the PGA Tour has long stood out for its unique mix of four-ball and foursomes formats. This year, the recent Masters champion and his former Zurich teammate, Shane Lowry, are returning to protect their crown. Last year, the pair combined for rounds of 61, 70, 64, and 68 to finish at 25-under and secure a memorable victory. “It showed a lot about our characters and how much we wanted to win this thing,” said Lowry, after their win. Then, during a press conference ahead of the 2025 Zurich Classic, McIlroy lit up when talking about their victory, saying, “It’s a shared experience. I think that’s a big part of it.” For him, the real win was the camaraderie.

A year later, they’re aiming to become the first team to go back-to-back in Zurich Classic history—a feat that would cement their names in the tournament’s lore. With a field packed with talent—Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, the Fitzpatrick brothers, and even the ever-dangerous team of J.T. Poston and Keith Mitchell—the stage was set for a classic. And the weather? Picture perfect. Day one brought 33°C heat, a soft southern breeze, and a UV index of 10 that had everyone reaching for sunscreen. The skies were clear, the course was firm, and the forecast called for nothing but sunshine through Sunday. So, what derailed the event this time?

Fans slam hypocrisy of the PGA TOUR

Conditions couldn’t have been better. The last thing anyone expected was a rule change that seemed to fly in the face of the very traditions the Tour so often claims to uphold. When PGA TOUR Communications dropped this bombshell on social media just hours before the opening tee shot, fans were stunned.

The post read: “Preferred lies will be in effect for round one of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.” Wait, what? Preferred lies, also known as “lift, clean, and place,” are typically reserved for wet, soggy conditions where fairways are waterlogged or muddy. But with dry, pristine weather and a firm course, the decision felt out of place. And fans didn’t hold back. The PGA Tour, long waving the flag of tradition and purity (especially when lobbing grenades at LIV Golf for playing fast and loose with the status quo), now finds itself bending rules in perfect weather. Didn’t Jay Monahan say, “We welcome good, healthy competition. The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that,” at the 2022 Travelers Championship? Now, fans are calling out the hypocrisy loud and clear.

This announcement set off a storm among golf fans, many of whom felt the integrity of the competition was being compromised. On social media, the backlash was swift and sharp. One user sarcastically quipped, “’Preferred lies’ are in effect with our mainstream media every day! 😄” — a jab not just at the Tour, but seemingly at broader institutions too. Another simply labeled the PGA Tour an “Unserious organization,” reflecting growing frustration over recent decisions that appear to prioritize convenience over tradition.

“Nothing is sacred anymore,” another comment read, echoing the sentiment that changes like this erode the very fabric of the game. And perhaps the most visceral reaction came in the form of a single word: “Boooooo.” In a sport rooted in discipline, precision, and heritage, the decision to allow preferred lies, even amid the expected heat and firm conditions, clearly struck a nerve. “That sh*t ain’t golf,” another fan fired off, summing up exactly how fans are feeling.

On a Tour where tradition is everything, the move to allow preferred lies in such favorable conditions raised eyebrows across the board. We know that a few years ago, it wasn’t this inconsistent. The PGA Tour had previously held strong to its traditional stance of not altering course conditions based on weather. In 2023, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was hit by gusting winds and rain, forcing an early suspension of play on Saturday and a Monday finish, marking the first time this happened since 2019. Despite the tough conditions, the PGA Tour didn’t apply “preferred lies” during the event.

But in 2025? At the 2025 Genesis Invitational, the PGA Tour applied the rule for the first round due to cold, wet, and windy conditions at Torrey Pines. Fans quickly criticized the move, calling it “embarrassing” and questioning the fairness of the competition given the favorable weather for play.

Critics, too, argue the rule change undercuts the competition’s integrity, especially in such ideal weather. It’s a puzzling call, and one that’s taken the shine off what should’ve been a pristine opening round in New Orleans. Whether McIlroy and Lowry can repeat a win, or the controversy lingers, we must wait for remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the 2025 Zurich Classic is off to a heated start. With temps near 33°C and zero precipitation, fans are left wondering: was this change necessary, or just another swing and miss by the Tour?