Gotterup Clinches Dramatic Playoff Victory at WM Phoenix Open
Chris Gotterup emerged victorious at the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona, securing his second win of the year and the fourth of his burgeoning career in a thrilling playoff finish. The 26-year-old showcased remarkable composure, carding a final-round 7-under-par 64 and then demonstrating precision on the first playoff hole to outlast Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
Gotterup’s triumph came after a late stumble by Matsuyama, who had held a strong position heading into the final stretch. The American golfer, who also triumphed at the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii just last month, has now won three tour events in less than a seven-month span. This marked his first appearance in a playoff situation on the PGA Tour.
“I just figured I’d stay loose,” Gotterup shared after his victory, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events. “I didn’t think this would happen, especially after Friday [71] and Saturday [70]. But here we are.” He expressed his enjoyment of his current form, stating, “I’m having such a good time playing right now. Just so awesome. … There’s just so many people who believe in me.”
A Gripping Final Round and Playoff Showdown
The final round at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course was a spectacle, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler making a significant surge up the leaderboard, generating considerable excitement among the spectators. Both Gotterup and Matsuyama finished regulation play tied at 16-under-par 268.
Gotterup’s closing round was a masterclass in recovery and precision, featuring birdies on five of the final six holes. His ability to bounce back from a wayward tee shot to secure a crucial birdie on the 18th hole was instrumental. “I knew I had to make birdie on 18, but you never know,” Gotterup commented. “Hideki was playing great.”
Matsuyama’s challenge ultimately faltered due to errant driving on the closing holes. His tee shot on the 18th found a bunker, and his attempt to salvage par was unsuccessful, leading to his only bogey of the round. The decisive moment came on the playoff hole when Matsuyama’s tee shot landed in the water adjacent to the fairway. Gotterup, playing steadily, capitalized by sinking another birdie to clinch the title.
Matsuyama, a two-time WM Phoenix Open champion (2016 and 2017), was aiming for his third PGA Tour victory in a 24-month period. He had previously held the outright lead through 54 holes on six occasions in his PGA Tour career, winning all five previous instances. Despite his disappointment, Matsuyama acknowledged his effort, stating through a translator, “[I] was grinding all weekend. [I] didn’t have my best stuff, but hung in there. I wanted to avoid the playoff as much as I could, but I just hit a bad tee shot there in regulation at 18 and Chris made a good putt there in the play-off.”
Scheffler’s Strong Challenge and Notable Performances
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler provided much of the day’s narrative, mounting an impressive charge towards the lead. Having begun his season with a win at The American Express two weeks prior, Scheffler was within one shot of the lead through 15 holes, despite playing in an earlier group. He concluded the final round with a 64.
“The last three days I played really solid,” Scheffler remarked, acknowledging that a Thursday 73 had hindered his overall performance. “Overall, proud of the way I fought this week and definitely some good momentum going into next week.”
Sharing third place with Scheffler at 15-under-par were Michael Thorbjornsen (67), Akshay Bhatia (67), South Korea’s Kim Si-woo (68), and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard (68).
Scheffler’s front nine saw him card three birdies, and he continued his strong play with three more birdies on holes 13 through 15. A highlight of his round was a remarkable 72-foot putt from the fringe on the par-4 14th. He added another birdie on the 17th.
Among the other notable performances, China’s Zecheng Dou recorded the day’s best round with a 63, propelling him to 11-under-par and a tie for 13th place.
