The not-so-famous PGA Tour pro, Chris Gotterup’s win at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday was a result of boiling blood.
The 25-year-old American outdueled Rory McIlroy with his final-round of 66 to claim the second Tour title and a ticket to next week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Additionally, his 15-under-par win also earned him a $1.575 million paycheck and a new Electrified GV70 courtesy of Genesis.
But the path to the trophy was not an easy one. The Easton, MD native was warned over slow play on the back nine.
Chris Gotterup had his ‘blood going’ before Scottish Open win
After a bogey on the first hole, Gotterup bounced back with five birdies until drama unfolded. “We got warned on like 13 for pace, which was a little odd because we were waiting all day,” he explained after signing his name to the winner’s list.
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“Then on 15, I got individually timed, which was shocking. That got my blood going a little bit more than it was already going trying to win a golf tournament”
Interestingly, the adrenaline spike didn’t rattle him but pushed him forward.
Gotterup quickly responded with a 10-foot birdie on the par-5 16th, the hole he’d failed to birdie all week.
“I talked all week about how I didn’t birdie 16… I made it and I felt like that was the point where it was my tournament to lose”.
The underdog’s emotional post-round interview with Amanda Balionis captured the weight of the moment. “I’m not going to be able to keep it together,” he said, wiping his eyes.
When asked again what it meant, he added, “Yeah, thanks for getting me to cry again”.
As we all know, the crowd was madly behind Rory McIlroy, and Gotterup too felt it deeply.
“I definitely was the villain out there a little bit. There was a lot of ‘Rory’ and not many ‘Chris.’ I felt like I was ready and prepared mentally. It feels great,” he expressed later.
“Rory is one of the best to ever do it,” he added. “Happy I edged him out. Amazing.”
This win, he said, felt like validation. “They are both very special,” Gotterup said, comparing it to his 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic win.
The win was made sweeter by two things. First, because of his former college coach, who flew in from Europe at the last minute. “He believed in me way before a lot of other people did, besides my parents. For him to be here and see that unfold is pretty cool.”
Secondly, for a pure class act from Rory McIlroy. As Gotterup signed his scorecard, the 2023 Scottish Open winner sat beside him and offered a quiet pat on the back, a gesture of respect from one champion to another.
Now, it is off to McIlroy’s home, Northern Ireland, for the Open Championship.
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