Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin rose above the competition — and a mid-round weather delay — to secure their first PGA Tour victories at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The duo posted a 71 on Sunday to finish at 28-under-par 260 at TPC Louisiana, edging Denmark’s Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by a single stroke. The win earns Novak and Griffin $1,329,400 each, 400 FedExCup points, two-year PGA Tour exemptions, and spots in upcoming Signature Events and the PGA Championship.
Novak bounces back after playoff heartbreak
Just a week ago, Andrew Novak fell short in a playoff against Justin Thomas at the RBC Heritage. On Sunday, he delivered. The 30-year-old captured his first career PGA Tour title in his 100th start. With the win, Novak jumps from No. 15 to No. 6 in the FedExCup standings and becomes the first player since Patrick Cantlay in 2022 to rebound from a playoff loss with a victory the following week.
“This is everything you work for,” Novak said after securing his long-awaited breakthrough.
Before New Orleans, Novak’s best finishes included second place at the 2025 RBC Heritage and 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Griffin caps consistent season with milestone victory
Ben Griffin, making his 90th career PGA Tour start, matched Novak’s achievement with a clutch performance in the final round. The 28-year-old entered the week with four top-10 finishes this season, including T4s at both the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld and Cognizant Classic.
With the Zurich Classic win, Griffin soars from No. 47 to No. 21 in the FedExCup standings. It also marks a high point in his steady rise, having previously logged runner-up finishes at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship.
Højgaard twins, Knapp and Capan round out the leaderboard
Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard pushed Novak and Griffin to the wire, closing with a 68 to finish at 27-under. This runner-up marks Nicolai’s third on Tour, while Rasmus notches his third career top-10.
Meanwhile, Jake Knapp and rookie Frankie Capan III took solo third at 26-under. Both players impressed in their tournament debuts, with Capan earning his first career PGA Tour top-10.
Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry finished T12 after falling short of becoming the first team to successfully defend a Zurich Classic title since the format shift in 2017.
Weather delay adds drama to the final round
Sunday’s final round featured a 1-hour, 33-minute suspension due to inclement weather, but Novak and Griffin maintained their composure once play resumed. They became just the fourth team since 2017 to convert a 54-hole lead into victory at the Zurich Classic.
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