Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry win Zurich Classic in playoff - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry received a standing ovation when they showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud's on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.

They also had the largest, loudest galleries at the TPC Louisiana, where the charismatic, 34-year-old McIlroy, had not previously played.

«He's getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,» Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. «Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we've gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We've had just the best week.»

McIlroy and Lowry won Sunday, beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer with a nervy par on the first hole of a playoff.

Trainer pushed a 6-foot par putt to the right of the cup to end it, with Lowry lifting a laughing McIlroy off the ground with a bear hug on the green.

«To win any PGA Tour event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends — we've known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years,» McIlroy said. «To think about where we met and where we've come from, to be on this stage and do this together — really, really cool journey that we've been a part of.»

McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, won his 25th PGA Tour title and first of the season. Lowry, of Ireland, claimed his third PGA Tour victory. Each walked away with about $1.29 million and 400 FedEx Cup points apiece.

«People have come out in the thousands to support us. It's not lost on me how cool that is,» McIlroy said. «Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it's so cool and so exciting.»

The Irish tandem closed with a 4-under 68 in the alternate-shot final round in windy conditions to match Ramey and Trainer