SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chris Gotterup did his part Sunday afternoon, charging up the Phoenix Open leaderboard with a closing flourish of five birdies in six holes.
As he kept loose on the first tee of TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, the 26-year-old American player knew he would need some help with former major champion Hideki Matsuyama still on the course with a one-shot lead.
Gotterup got what he needed with a wild tee shot by Matsuyama on 18, then took advantage when the 33-year-old Japanese star did it again in the playoff.
Gotterup closed with a 7-under-par 64 to make the bonus golf possible, and he secured a sudden victory with a long birdie putt on the first extra hole after Matsuyama pulled his tee shot into the water.
“You never know what to expect,” Gotterup said. “We went over to the first tee, hit a couple balls, was watching, and then all of a sudden you’re out there on 18, and everyone is going nuts, and you’re like, ‘All right, this is it.'”