The Major Championship-winning duo, who have known each other since junior golf, are joined by a host of established DP World Tour stars in action, with players contesting two rounds of foursomes and two rounds of fourballs.
McIlroy and Lowry defeated Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer on the first play-off hole to claim victory on their tournament debut last year and are aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the title in an event which was introduced in 2017.
Held at TPC Louisiana, the two-man format has again brought together an intriguing array of partnerships – including Ryder Cup stars, dual members, DP World Tour winners this season and a trio of family acts.
"I'm eager to get back out there," said five-time Major winner McIlroy on Wednesday. "I think this is the perfect atmosphere to do it in.
"I wanted to honour the commitment to be here is because it's a fun event to be out there with Shane. I also know that it's not all on me; he has to do some of the work, too. Maybe a lot of it the next two days.
"It's a perfect tournament to come back to, just good positive vibes from last year.
"I don't know if it [winning the Masters] gives me more confidence. I've always been very confident in my abilities as a golfer.
"I do think that the whole day on Sunday at Augusta, I don't think I'll have to ever play a harder round of golf in my life.
"I certainly don't want to be placed back on that 15th tee box on that Sunday afternoon. So I think to be able to get through that and produce the shots when I needed to, that obviously gives me confidence, and I can always draw back on that experience."
Former World Number One Luke Donald is teeing it up alongside Camilo Villegas, and the European Ryder Cup Captain will be forgiven for having more than just a passing interest on the fortunes of some of those in action.
With the countdown to Europe’s bid to retain their title at Bethpage drawing nearer, there will be intrigue around the partnership of Robert MacIntyre and Thomas Detry and others.
MacIntyre, who won the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open on home soil for his second worldwide win last year, is joined by the Belgian, a fellow graduate of the HotelPlanner Tour who won his first PGA TOUR title in Arizona earlier this year.
Then there are brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick are also returning competitors, having played together in both 2023 and 2024, while DP World Tour winner Yannik and Jeremy Paul are the second set of twins competing in the 160-player field.
Scandinavian duo Jesper Svensson and Niklas Nørgaard, who are in the midst of their rookie campaigns as dual members of the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, are making their debuts, while French pair Matthieu Pavon and Victor Perez – beneficiaries of the pathway in 2023 – are teaming up in the event for the first time.
Another double act which will be familiar is England’s Matt Wallace and Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen, while Aaron Rai – one of several Europeans who competed at the Team Cup in January – lines up alongside American Sahith Theegala both sharing their Indian roots.
Laurie Canter, who was the Race to Dubai leader prior to McIlroy’s momentous success at Augusta National earlier this month, will play alongside countryman Jordan Smith, who finished runner-up at the Volvo China Open last week.
Among the other DP World Tour members in action are Japanese trio Ryo Hisatsune, Takumi Kanaya and Rikuya Hoshino, Spanish pair Alejandro del Rey and Angel Ayora, Matteo Manassero, Antoine Rozner and Sepp Straka, who is one of six players inside the top 20 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
