2025 Zurich Classic leaderboard: Andrew Novak, Ben Griffin register first career PGA Tour wins together

Novak and Griffin entered New Orleans without a tournament victory on the PGA Tour but got the job done as a duo

Andrew Novak kept knocking and knocking. On Sunday, he stepped through the door and into the winner's circle alongside partner Ben Griffin at the 2025 Zurich Classic. Side-by-side in the lone team event played on the regular-season schedule, Novak and Griffin notched their first career victories on the PGA Tour in dramatic fashion by reaching 28 under at TPC Louisiana.

Novak and Griffin ultimately outlasted twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard for a one-stroke victory with a birdie from the blade of Griffin on the penultimate hole serving as the decisive blow.

The win sends Novak to No. 6 in the FedEx Cup standings as this week represented the third straight tournament during which he played in the final group on Sunday. Last week at the RBC Heritage, Novak missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have resulted in his first win; instead, Justin Thomas edged him in the first playoff hole.

Griffin jumps to No. 21 in the season-long race on the back of his first trophy. The North Carolina product played every tournament from the Sony Open through the Texas Open in hopes of securing an invitation into the Masters but fell agonizingly short of qualifying via the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings. After two weeks off, he can rest in knowing he will have a great opportunity to play in next year's tournament.

Both Novak and Griffin have now qualified for the remaining signature events this season as well as the PGA Championship. Should they wish, they can start their 2026 campaigns in Kapalua at The Sentry as they have locked up playing privileges for the next two seasons.

While the team looked the part through 54 holes, the final 18 holes were anything but easy for the eventual champions. Beginning the final round with a three-stroke lead, Novak and Griffin made bogey out of the gates before settling into their day. A couple birdies helped ease the nerves and balloon their lead back to three by the time they stepped to the 8th tee.

A sloppy bogey from the middle of the fairway on the short par 4 was followed by a 3-putt bogey on the par-3 9th. When Jake Knapp and Frankie Caplan III made birdie on the other side of the turn, the plot thickened as two teams were suddenly tied atop the leaderboard.

While eyes were on the final foursomes, the Højgaards held out hope. Three birdies in a four-hole stretch allowed them to reenter the conversation. The three teams were nervy down the stretch, but the place erupted when Griffin buried a bomb on the 17th hole to regain the solo lead.

With their playing partners making bogey on No. 17 and the Højgaards only able to make birdie on the par-5 finisher, Novak and Griffin knew par would be enough to secure their maiden, long-awaited voyage into the winner's circle. Grade: A+

Here are the grades for the rest of the notable teams on the leaderboard at the 2025 Zurich Classic.

2. Nicolai Højgaard & Rasmus Højgaard (-27): It was a sneaky week for The Great Danes as both twins entered the tournament outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings. While a win would have squashed most of the concerns, a nice outing pushed both inside the top 90, and it could serve as a launch pad for a long summer of golf. Their skills are undeniable and allowed for a mid-round push to get within one stroke of the lead, but that is as close as they got. The more they place themselves in contention on the PGA Tour, the more comfortable the 24-year-olds will get on this stage. Grade: A

3. Jake Knapp & Frankie Caplan III (-26): They entered the final round three strokes off the pace and remained that far behind on No. 8. Just a couple holes later, Knapp and Capan had tied Novak and Griffin thanks to a birdie and a pair of bogeys from their competitors. They had their chances to press the issue, but left misses from Capan continued to hinder their chances. The ultimate blow came on the par-3 17th when Capan found the water off the tee and sunk their team's chances. Still, it was a much-needed finish for the rookie. Grade: A-

T13. Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry (-22): The defending champions weren't quite as steady in their return trip (for good reason given McIlroy's Masters celebrations). There were a number of stop-and-go runs throughout the week -- like their opening 64 that put them a half dozen off the pace and a roaring start to their second round that saw them reach 6 under in their first 12 holes. The momentum was halted with three bogeys in the final six holes for an alternate-shot 69 that was backed up by a much tidier 61 in four-ball. By then, they were just a hair too far behind, and when mixed with a slow start and another slow finish on Sunday, a good (not great) result became a sure thing. Grade: B

T18. J.T. Poston & Keith Mitchell (-21): Surprisingly, it was the four-ball format that did them in. Poston and Mitchell played the more difficult format in 9 under -- largely due to a final-round 65 -- and four-ball in just 12 under. On paper, the duo should have thrived in the low-scoring affairs of Thursday and Saturday, but their inability to keep up with their peers in terms of birdies was their undoing. As a consolation prize, Mitchell made a move inside the top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings. Grade: C

MC. Collin Morikawa & Kurt Kitayama: They were 14 strokes worse in foursomes than in four-ball, and it cost them a spot on the weekend tee sheet. After opening with a 61 in Round 1 and being listed among the favorites, Morikawa and Kitayama were doing just fine in Round 2 before disaster struck. Playing their first 11 holes in 1 under, the two played their final seven holes in 4 over thanks to two double bogeys and missed the cut by a couple strokes. It marks the second straight disappointing end to a tournament for Morikawa, while Kitayama remains outside the top 150 in the FedEx Cup standings. Grade: F

[Apr 27, 2025 at 7:10 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Capan wet on No. 17

He has battled the lefts alllllll day long, and it finally bites him. The PGA Tour rookie finds the water on No. 17 and they will do well to only drop one on this one. The Hojgaard twins are out of position on No. 18 while Novak and Griffin are DRY on No. 17 and should be able to 2-putt for par.

[Apr 27, 2025 at 6:53 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Tied up with three to go

The final pairing are in lockstep at 27 under and will head to the par-4 16th all tied up. The Hojgaard twins are not going away up in front and are on the greens on the par-3 16th just one behind. The Great Danes will have a shot to add another birdie on the last to get to 27 under and make the final foursome think alittle bit more.

[Apr 27, 2025 at 6:16 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Young bucks in the water

Karl Vilips and Michael Thorbjornsen were up ahead and making their move, but they were just halted. Getting within one stroke of the lead, Vilips' tee shot on the long par-3 17th found the water and may have sunken their chances at pulling a rabbit out of a hat. The final pairing remain tied through 12 holes at 27 under.

[Apr 27, 2025 at 5:44 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Tied game

Well, things just got interesting. Andrew Novak misses a short par putt on No. 9, and then Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan make birdie on No. 10. After leading by three strokes on the eighth green, Griffin and Novak walk off the 10th green in a share of the lead at 27 under.

[Apr 27, 2025 at 5:20 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Lead trimmed to two

Andrew Novak kisses the lip with his 20-foot par putt, but it does not fall. That is their second bogey of the afternoon and it drops them to 28 under and only two clear of their playing partners, Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III. The chasers are playing steady golf with two birdies and six pars in their first eight holes.

[Apr 27, 2025 at 4:41 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Play to resume at 5:15 p.m. ET

Balls will be in the air in roughly 30 minutes following a weather delay due to inclement weather. When players return, our leaders — Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin — will face a 20-foot par putt on No. 8 to maintain their three-stroke lead.