Novak & Griffin win Zurich Classic as McIlroy & Lowry fade

Fourth-round leaderboard for Zurich Classic

-28 B Griffin &amp, A Novak (US), -27 N Hojgaard &amp, R Hojaard (Den), -26 J Knapp &amp, Capan III (US), -25 M Thorbjornsen &amp, Vilips (US/AUS), T Crowe &amp, T Dickson (AUS/US), D Lipsky, D Wu (US), L List &amp, H Norlander (US/Swe)

Selected others: -22 R McIlroy &amp, S Lowry (NI/Ire), -21 A Rai &amp, S Theegala (Eng/US), -19 D Skinns &amp, B Taylor (Eng), -16 R MacIntyre &amp, T Detry (Sco/Bel)

As American duo Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin claimed their first PGA Tour victory, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry faltered in their bid to win back-to-back Zurich Classic of New Orleans titles.

McIlroy and Lowry shot two-under 34 on the front nine before the alternate-shot final round, but they were forced to make bogeys at 13 and 15 after a 90-minute weather delay.

McIlroy and Lowry tied for 12th after carding an even-par 72 in the final round.

A three-way battle broke out in the final minutes as Lowry faded on the back nine and McIlroy, who was playing for the first time since winning the Masters.

After three rounds, Novak and Griffin shot a perfect three-shot lead over Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard.

Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III, the overnight leaders, were tied at 27 with another American pair before the par-three 17th-hole decisive two-shot lead.

With one hole remaining, Griffin made a superb birdie putt from the back of the green to establish a two-stroke cushion.

The Hojgaard brothers parried for a winning par of 71 after birdieing the par-five 18th to card a four-under 68, but Novak and Griffin were one shot away.