Phoenix Open: Gotterup Claims Mega-Victory After Wild Matsuyama Drama!
Chris Gotterup secures victory at the PGA Tour Phoenix Open on Sunday! What a finish! He triumphed in a playoff against Hideki Matsuyama with a birdie on the first playoff hole. This came after the Japanese major champion had just arrived from the 72nd hole, where he had just squandered a solo lead – only to then find the water in the playoff. The action was intense on the course!
Gotterup started the day four shots behind Matsuyama, the leader after round three. But the guy fired an incredible round: nine birdies en route to a 7-under-par 64 at TPC Scottsdale! He gained five shots in his final six holes alone, finishing with a total score of 16-under-par, or 268. Absolutely phenomenal!
Meanwhile, Matsuyama had a frustrating round. Hitting only three of 14 fairways – things weren't going smoothly! Despite that, he still reached the 72nd hole with a 17-under-par lead. But his errant shot then caught him cold: The ball landed in the infamous "Church Pews" bunker left of the fairway. And just like that, there was his first bogey of the day. He closed the round with a 3-under-par 68 and was suddenly tied with Gotterup at 268 strokes. When the two returned to the 18th for the playoff? Matsuyama again went left – and into the water. Pure drama!
Gotterup seized the opportunity, sinking a long birdie putt to claim his first PGA Tour playoff victory. And this is already his second title of 2026, having triumphed just last month at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He had positioned himself with a late fireworks display: birdies on holes 13, 14, and 15, followed by another double-pack on 17 and 18. On the 18th, he hit a shot from the right rough to set up a three-foot birdie putt – which he then still had to make!
"I knew I needed a birdie on 18, but you never know," Gotterup said later. "Hideki played really well; the 17th is doable, but there's also a lot of danger lurking. I just thought, I'll stay relaxed. I didn't think this would actually happen, especially not after Friday and Saturday – but here we are!" Gotterup had started his week with a really strong 63 but then lost some ground with a 71 in the second round and a 70 in the third.
Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters Champion and two-time Phoenix winner, had four birdies to his name and fended off numerous challenges before his final drama. "It's disappointing, a shock," Matsuyama admitted, adding that he would "just get back on the horse next week." "I fought all weekend," he said. "Didn't have my best stuff, but I grinded it out."
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