Beware the spurned Ryder Cup golfer, for he is a man to be feared.
If two years ago it was Keegan Bradley in a late-career resurgence, this year’s candidate may be 26-year-old Chris Gotterup, one of the last players left off the 2025 American team despite a summer breakout.
Some may have been wary of a young golfer with such a small sample, but Gotterup made a statement Sunday that he’s not going anywhere. In the PGA Tour’s season-opening event, Gotterup came from three back to run away with the Sony Open in Honolulu for his third career win.
Gotterup is one of the longer drivers on tour, and even through difficult wind conditions this week in Hawaii, he thrived from tee to green down the stretch as the rest of the field faltered. He led the field in strokes gained off the tee and cleaned up on the greens, also finishing first in putting.
As he made his way to the seventh hole Sunday at 11-under par, Gotterup trailed leader Davis Riley by three shots. Then, Gotterup hit a tough 18-foot birdie putt on 7 while Riley collapsed. Riley three-putted on consecutive holes to start a bogey, bogey, double bogey run. He ultimately finished tied for sixth.
Gotterup, meanwhile, got hot. He easily birdied the par-5 ninth before keeping up the hot putting with 21- and 26-foot birdies on 12 and 13 to create his own three-shot lead. Fellow 26-year-old talent Ryan Gerard made a late run to contend and get within two, but Gotterup’s winding 11-foot birdie on 17 was the final dagger. Gotterup’s edge over Gerard was two shots after Gerard birdied the final hole.
Gotterup’s win is about the validation it gives. He earned his first win in 2024 at the alternate event Myrtle Beach Classic, but it was when he outplayed Rory McIlroy in the final pairing at the Scottish Open last summer that the golf world truly took note. The next week, he went to Royal Portrush and finished tied for third at the Open Championship.
Suddenly, the entire picture of his season was worth Ryder Cup consideration. He’d been steady for months, racking up 11 top-20s last year and a solid T23 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Add in his bomber skill set fitting perfectly at Ryder Cup venue Bethpage Black, and there was a case to be made.
In the end, the other 12 golfers had stronger resumes, but Gotterup made himself a name to keep an eye on. Sunday, he solidified it. Sure, he’ll play tougher venues with tougher fields, but he’s now an already consistent golfer who can boast three wins on the PGA Tour by 26.