Matt Fitzpatrick having fun with his brother in New Orleans

Brothers finish first round one stroke off the lead in pairs tournament.

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick have started the Zurich Classic of New Orleans strong after finishing the first day tied in third place in the doubles-style PGA competition. Matt Fitzpatrick, left, celebrates with his brother Alex Fitzpatrick, both of England, after finishing the day on the ninth green during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 20, 2023. (Gerald Herbert, AP Photo) (AP)

Matt Fitzpatrick continued having fun after his RBC Heritage victory as he teamed up with brother Alex to sit just one shot off the lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The US Open champion and his younger brother, who needed a sponsor’s invitation to play in the tournament, made five birdies apiece in the opening round of foursomes.

Their opening 10-under-par 62 leaves them a stroke behind Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler, who were joined at the top of the leaderboard by Sean O’Hair and Brandon Matthews.

After his win at Hilton Head on Sunday, Matt Fitzpatrick said it was a no-brainer to pair up with his brother who turned pro last year and plays mainly on the Challenge Tour in Europe.

“It was as much fun as I’ve had on the golf course in, well, about four days, to be fair,” he said. “He played great on the back nine and he bailed me out a few times.

“Obviously this was an opportunity to play with my brother and you don’t know how many of those you’re going to get. It was always one I was looking to try and play.”

As well as the £1million top prize for each player, victory here would earn Alex a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour

The duo are tied with four other teams, fellow Englishman Aaron Rai continuing his good form from Hilton Head alongside American David Lipsky.

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari were two shots further back ahead of the second round in the more challenging foursomes format.

In the first women’s major of the season, England’s Georgia Hall made a solid start to the first day of the Chevron Championship in Texas, finishing tied ninth with two-under.

Hall hit four birdies and two bogeys to finish three strokes behind the leader Peiyun Chien from Taiwan.