RankingTeamComment10Austin Smotherman and Andrew PutnamNeither is a stranger to TPC Louisiana, but it’s the first time that they’ve joined forces. Both are enjoying strong seasons and sit inside the top 50 of the FedExCup. With strong tee-to-green games, they’ll have plenty of looks at par breakers, but Putnam might need to carry the load on the greens.9Marco Penge and Matt WallaceThe boys from Britain have a combined eight DP World Tour victories; Wallace has one on the PGA TOUR. Each also has a top-five finish in the last month, so they arrive with some mojo. Penge is a first-timer here as a rookie, so he’ll lean on Wallace’s experience of five starts (two top 25s).8Karl Vilips and Michael ThorbjornsenEach is the only partner the other has ever known. As a debut duo last year, they placed T4 shortly after Vilips won the Puerto Rico Open. The Aussie has scuffled since, but Thorbjornsen’s seriously strong bag and overall relentlessness covers, forming a classic blend of skills.7Wyndham Clark and Taylor MooreThey have a combined four top 10s in this format, albeit not yet one together after missing the cut in their first try last year. Clark has misfired in the long-term, but he rose for top 25s at the Masters and the RBC Heritage. Moore made noise on the Florida Swing. Both can be white-hot putters.6Casey Jarvis and A.J. EwartFirst-timer firepower. Jarvis is just 22 years old, but he recently went Win-Win-T2 on the DP World Tour in February and sits fourth in the Race to Dubai. Ewart, 26, is managing his first season on TOUR with moxie after medaling at PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.5Aaron Rai and Sahith TheegalaThese two are running it back after debuting as a partnership with a T18 last year. It was a uncharacteristically isolated bright spot for Theegala, but he’s since returned to his familiar consistently strong self. Rai, who has three top 20s in four appearances, recently battled a sore neck.4Ryan Gerard and Sudarshan YellamarajuAfter bridging the holidays with three straight runner-up finishes worldwide, Gerard has retreated into inconsistency, so this midseason wrinkle presents an opportunity to reset. Yellamaraju debuts as the replacement for another lefty, David Ford, who withdrew. The rookie is the star of his class.3Ben Griffin and Andrew NovakWhen Novak went off for an eagle and seven birdies en route to a third-round 65 at Harbour Town last week, it was understandable if Griffin told him to save some of that scoring for their title defense this week. Griffin has yet to connect for a top 15 in 2026, so this reunion arrives as a terrific time.2Brooks Koepka and Shane LowryPremium blend. With his teammate from their victory in 2024, Rory McIlroy, sitting this one out, Lowry “settles” for another multiple major champion to chase another. Koepka has three appearances on his résumé, and he logged a T9 and another three top 20s in his last five starts despite shaky putting.1Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex FitzpatrickThe British brothers are back for a fourth installment of their natural partnership (T19-T11-MC), only this time each arrives having lifted a trophy on his home circuit in his last start. Matt is fresh off a playoff win at the RBC Heritage, while Alex took the title at the Hero Indian Open three weeks ago.
