Chris Gotterup (-16) became the first multiple winner of the 2026 PGA Tour season this Sunday. After lifting the trophy at the Sony Open last January, today he took advantage of Hideki Matsuyama’s (-16) collapse in the final part of the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale to win the WM Phoenix Open, take the lead in the FedEx Cup, and break into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Third-year PGA TOUR pro @ChrisGotterup is now a FOUR-TIME PGA TOUR WINNER!!!! pic.twitter.com/GBnI6JAwSh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 8, 2026
The 26-year-old American arrived at the 13th tee after committing his second bogey of the day. His score was 11 under par, far from the fight for victory. But against all odds, he experienced a movie-like end to his round. Five birdies in his last six holes, including one on the final flag after a stunning iron shot, allowed him to sign a round of 64 and post the best score in the Clubhouse, awaiting the final match.
With that score of 16 under, he managed to beat Scottie Scheffler (-15), with whom he played the first two rounds of the tournament and who was clinging to his slim chances. But it seemed an insufficient result against a Hideki Matsuyama (-16) who, although making mistake after mistake with the driver from the tee (only three fairways in his entire round), had everything in his favour to certify his third victory in the tournament (he had won it in 2016 and 2017). Until the Japanese player, inexplicably, decided to complicate his life on his own.
Already on the 17th hole, he was close to sending his ball into the water from the tee, although he ended up putting for birdie without success. And on the 18th, with another disastrous driver, he sent his ball into a sandy area dotted with rough patches. He had a relatively ‘comfortable’ shot to get his ball to the green and close the door on a possible playoff by making par with two putts. But his recovery grazed the bank, barely advanced a few metres, and pushed him towards a bogey that sent him to the playoff against Gotterup.
It hit the lip 😮
Hideki needs a par to win @WMPhoenixOpen … but he has work ahead.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/zXqhoym2Tj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 8, 2026
The American, who had gone to the practice range just in case (although he spent more time on his phone than hitting balls), put pressure on with a great drive off the tee, down the fairway. And the Japanese player, culminating his disastrous tournament finish, sent the ball into the water. His good recovery after dropping was of no use. Chris gave him no chance by sinking a great putt for birdie, which allowed him to take home a cheque for over 1.7 million dollars and increase his number of victories on the tour to four (one in 2024, another in 2025, and two so far this year).
By then, Scheffler’s comeback attempt had stalled. The World Number One sealed a great round of 64, with seven birdies and no mistakes, which earned him a tie for third place. It was the 35th round of 64 or less he has achieved in the last five years. But the 73 with which he started the week was too big a burden, even though one more birdie, like the ones he ‘forgave’ on holes 4 and 6, would have been enough to get him into the playoff.
Michael Thorbjornsen (-15), tied with the World Number One in third place, managed to take the tournament lead but was overwhelmed by pressure, with bogeys on 16 and 17. Meanwhile, Akshay Bhatia (-15), Si Woo Kim (-15), and Nicolai Hojgaard (-15), also just one stroke away from that sudden death, did not find the necessary momentum to reach the score that ultimately allowed Gotterup to be crowned in Arizona.
