Chris Gotterup is your 2026 WM Phoenix Open champion — and he earned it in unforgettable fashion.
Standing on the 13th tee, Gotterup’s chances of victory looked all but gone. After bogeying the par-3 12th, his 11-under total left him five shots off the lead. A solid top-10 finish (and a healthy paycheck) seemed likely. Taking home hardware did not.
That assumption didn’t last long.
Over the final six holes, Gotterup caught fire, carding five birdies to surge into the clubhouse lead at 16 under. The run included a clutch wedge shot from the gallery on the 18th hole that finished inside five feet, putting the finishing touches on his final-round 64.
“I knew I’d need to make birdie on 18,” Gotterup said. “But you never know.”
Even then, his fate wasn’t fully in his hands. Hideki Matsuyama, the 54-hole leader, still sat one stroke clear, leaving Gotterup to wait on the driving range and hope for a mistake.
That blunder came on the final hole.
Needing only a par to claim his third victory at TPC Scottsdale, Matsuyama hooked his tee shot on 18 into the church pew bunkers left of the fairway. His approach clipped the bunker’s lip and squirted into the intermediate rough more than 40 yards short of the green. When Matsuyama failed to get up and down, the two headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff.
The playoff hole unfolded eerily similar to regulation. Gotterup once again blasted his drive into wedge range, while Matsuyama again missed left, this time finding the water. Moments later, Gotterup poured his birdie putt into the center of the cup to seal the win.
“I’m just having such a good time playing right now,” Gotterup said, choking back tears. “I know everyone at home is watching, and it’s just so awesome.”
With the victory, Gotterup earns $1.7 million, moves to the top of the FedEx Cup standings and becomes the first player to win multiple events during the 2026 season, following his victory at The Sony just three weeks ago.
“There are just so many people who believe in me,” he said. “It’s so much fun.”
