Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick produced one of the best stories of the PGA Tour season at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Two brothers, one team, 31 under par, and a victory that carried both emotional weight and serious financial reward.
According to the PGA Tour’s official payout breakdown, the Fitzpatrick brothers finished at 257, 31 under, with each player earning $1,372,750 from the Zurich Classic purse. (pgatour.com)
That number looks clean on the leaderboard. The real-world take-home figure is not.
Because the Zurich Classic is played in Louisiana and both brothers are UK-based professionals competing in the United States, the headline prize money is likely subject to significant U.S. withholding before either player sees the full amount. The IRS generally applies 30% withholding on gross U.S.-source income for nonresident foreign athletes, unless a Central Withholding Agreement reduces that amount based on net income. (IRS)
On a prize of $1,372,750 each, that federal withholding estimate alone comes to:
$411,825 per player
Louisiana also matters. The state lists a flat 3% individual income tax rate for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. (revenue.louisiana.gov) Applied broadly to the Zurich winnings, that would add roughly:
$41,183 per player
So the basic U.S. tax estimate looks like this:
| Category | Estimated amount per player |
|---|---|
| Zurich Classic prize money | $1,372,750 |
| Estimated U.S. federal withholding, 30% | $411,825 |
| Estimated Louisiana tax, 3% | $41,183 |
| Estimated total U.S. tax/withholding | $453,008 |
| Estimated amount after U.S. tax/withholding | $919,742 |
That is where the “lost $500K” framing comes from. It is not a penalty, fine, or tournament deduction. It is the tax reality attached to a seven-figure PGA Tour payday.
There are also important caveats. Tournament tax situations for international players can be more complicated than a straight percentage calculation. Travel expenses, caddie fees, agent fees, tax treaties, and the player’s final UK tax position can all affect the ultimate number. A Central Withholding Agreement can also reduce U.S. withholding when approved, because it is designed to estimate tax on net income rather than simply taking 30% from gross receipts. (IRS)
Still, the broad picture is clear: the Fitzpatrick brothers won big in New Orleans, but the tax bill is big as well.
For Alex Fitzpatrick, the value of the week extends well beyond the bank account. Reports noted that the victory secured him a PGA Tour card through 2028 and major exemptions, making the Zurich Classic a career-changing win rather than simply a one-week payday.
For Matt Fitzpatrick, it was another high-profile PGA Tour title. For the brothers together, it was a rare family moment at the top level of professional golf.
The purse number will grab attention. The tax number will drive the viral posts. But the real story is this: the Fitzpatricks walked away from TPC Louisiana with a trophy, a seven-figure payday each, and a win that carries far more long-term value than the amount left after withholding.
