Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai, the Indian-origin duo competing in the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans, opened their campaign with a 10-under-par 62 in the four-ball (best ball) format on Thursday, April 24, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. The pair sit tied for 13th place after Day 1, four shots adrift of the tournament-record-matching leaders. Despite individual brilliance from both players, the depth of the field kept them outside the top ten after the opening round.

Eagles Spark Early Momentum for Theegala and Rai

Theegala set the tone early by eagling the par-5 second hole, giving the pair an immediate boost in the best-ball format where only the lower score counts. Rai then produced one of the shots of the day, spinning in an approach from 106 yards on the par-4 13th hole for a stunning eagle that underlined his ball-striking precision.

The two eagles were highlights in what was otherwise a consistent, if not spectacular, round. Their 10-under 62 is a strong score in isolation, but the exceptional scoring conditions at TPC Louisiana — a course known for its receptive greens and birdie-friendly layout — meant the field averaged significantly lower than usual.

Smalley and Springer Set Tournament Record at 14-Under

Leading the field after Day 1 are Americans Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who carded a breathtaking 14-under-par 58, matching the Zurich Classic tournament record. Their round featured relentless birdie-making and set a formidable benchmark for the rest of the 80-team field.

Just one shot behind at 13-under are Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, whose round included an eagle followed by an extraordinary streak of eight consecutive birdies — a sequence that underscores the aggressive scoring possible in the four-ball format.

Indian-Origin Players Make Their Mark

Beyond Theegala and Rai, another player of Indian heritage, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, paired with Ryan Gerard, posted a 7-under round to sit tied for 42nd place. While that position is outside the likely cut line, there is still time to recover in the subsequent rounds.

The presence of three players of Indian origin at one of the PGA Tour's most distinctive events reflects the growing global footprint of Indian-American golfers. Theegala, a California-born player of Telugu descent, has been among the more consistent performers on Tour in recent seasons, while Rai, a British-Indian, has steadily built his reputation on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

High-Profile Pairings Struggle to Keep Pace

Not all marquee teams had a strong opening day. Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka — a pairing that generated significant pre-tournament buzz — managed only a 6-under 66, leaving them outside the top 40 and facing serious pressure ahead of the cut. A strong Day 2 performance in the same four-ball format will be essential for them to survive into the weekend.

The Fitzpatrick brothers, Matt and Alex, combined for an 8-under 64, placing them six shots off the lead. While within mathematical contention, they will need a significant improvement when the format switches to the more demanding foursomes (alternate shot) format, which historically separates the field more sharply.

What to Expect in Remaining Rounds

The Zurich Classic alternates between four-ball and foursomes formats across its four rounds, with Day 2 returning to four-ball before the weekend shifts to alternate shot. The foursomes format is widely considered the great equaliser — partnerships that thrive in best ball often struggle when every shot must be shared.

For Theegala and Rai, the priority will be to close the gap on the leaders in the second four-ball round before navigating the foursomes challenge. Their chemistry as close friends could prove an advantage in the pressure-cooker alternate shot format. With the cut expected around 8-under, they are comfortably placed but will need to attack on Day 2 to genuinely contend for the title.