AVONDALE, La. — Brandt Snedeker’s partner at the 2026 Zurich Classic is Keith Mitchell, known in PGA Tour circles as “Cashmere Keith.” But with the humidity rising in New Orleans and the sun shining brightly above TPC Louisiana, debonaire dressing Mitchell was in shorts and a polo on Wednesday morning as the two played in the pro-am.
And, like everyone else competing this week in the Tour’s only team competition, Mitchell and Snedeker were both smiling when they spoke with Golfweek.
“You know, we play a lot of partner games on the practice rounds and giving each other a hard time,” Mitchell said. “It's nice to be able to do that while you're competing together and with each other.”
Mitchell and Snedeker have played this event together before, back in 2021, and they finished a respectable T-4. And in Snedeker, Mitchell could not have found a player who could do a better job of patching up his shortcomings. The former standout at the University of Georgia ranks sixth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and averages 311 yards per drive, but he is also among the worst putters, statistically, on the PGA Tour, ranking 124th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
That’s where Snedeker, 45, comes in because he has been an elite putter throughout most of his career.
“He’s probably going to read all my putts and just tell me where to hit them, and I’m perfectly fine with that,” Mitchell said. “I wish he could putt for me every week. I think most Tour players would say that.”
While Snedeker should help the pairing on the greens, as someone who averaged just 284 yards off the tee last season, he is looking forward to playing second shots in foursomes after Mitchell tees off.
“I love hitting it from where he drives it from,” Snedeker said. “Watching somebody do what you can’t do is really fun.”
If the formula sounds simple, that’s because, at least on paper, it is. Mitchell drives it, Snedeker cleans things up. But as anyone who has watched this event long enough knows, the Zurich Classic has a way of testing more than just skill sets.
It tests chemistry, and that part, both players believe, is already in place.
“We’re not shy about giving each other a needle out here,” Snedeker said.
Typically, the PGA Tour is a solitary grind, but this week offers a chance to lean on a partner, share the pressure and, occasionally, laugh at a bad swing instead of stewing over it.
More: 2026 Zurich Classic tee times, odds, how to watch first round Thursday
It’s also one of the few weeks on the schedule where Snedeker’s perspective shifts slightly. As the U.S. captain for the 2026 Presidents Cup, he isn’t just playing. He’s watching.
“A lot more than I thought,” Snedeker said when asked about the preparation that’s already underway.
“It’s been eye-opening. I’ve watched a ton of golf,” he said. “I’ve texted a bunch of the guys, trying to figure out what’s going on, how they’re feeling.”
That dual role creates a balancing act. Compete, but observe. Focus on your own game, but keep an eye on potential pairings and personalities that might matter later this year at Medinah in September.
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2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansThe 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans merchandise shop features t-shirts, hats, shirts and accessories adorned in crawfish, alligators, hot sauce and more.12 / 16Photos: Best merchandise at 2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansThe 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans merchandise shop features t-shirts, hats, shirts and accessories adorned in crawfish, alligators, hot sauce and more.13 / 16Photos: Best merchandise at 2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansThe 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans merchandise shop features t-shirts, hats, shirts and accessories adorned in crawfish, alligators, hot sauce and more.14 / 16Photos: Best merchandise at 2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansThe 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans merchandise shop features t-shirts, hats, shirts and accessories adorned in crawfish, alligators, hot sauce and more.15 / 16Photos: Best merchandise at 2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansThe 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans merchandise shop features t-shirts, hats, shirts and accessories adorned in crawfish, alligators, hot sauce and more.16 / 16Photos: Best merchandise at 2026 Zurich Classic of New OrleansThe 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans merchandise shop features t-shirts, hats, shirts and accessories adorned in crawfish, alligators, hot sauce and more.“You can use stats and data as much as you want to,” Snedeker said. “But at the end of the day, these two guys might pair up great together on paper, but their personalities don’t match. It’s not going to be a good fit.”
That reality makes weeks like the Zurich Classic valuable, even if the calendar doesn’t quite cooperate.
More: Billy Horschel among our longshot picks for 2026 Zurich Classic