[Photo: Justin Edmonds]
Hideki Matsuyama looked like he had his third WM Phoenix Open title well in hand. Instead, an 18-hole hiccup by the 2021 Masters champion put Chris Gotterup in a play-off where he walked off with his third win in less than 12 months.
It marked a wild ending to what is typically a crazy week at TPC Scottsdale. Matsuyama hit just three fairways on the final day but still managed a three-under-par 68. Gotterup, meanwhile, came home in 31, including birdies on four of the last five holes, including an approach inside three feet (0.9 metres) from 130 yards (118.8 metres) at the last.
RELATED: Chris Gotterup benefits from Hideki Matsuyama’s meltdown in Phoenix, collects second win of season
In the playoff, Gotterup had an easy time of it after Matsuyama dunked his tee shot in the left water, yet removed all doubt by draining a 27-foot (8.2 metre) birdie putt.
Although his putting was off, the key parts of his game were working. He ranked seventh in strokes gained/off the tee, picking up four shots on the field while averaging 332.6 yards (304.1metres) per tee shot with his 7.5-degree Ping G440 LST driver with a HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 shaft.
He also ranked third in strokes gained/approach with his Bridgestone 220 MB irons, converted enough up-and-down opportunities with his TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 wedges to rank third in strokes gained/around the green.
Two other intriguing equipment nuggets. Gotterup plays with a mini driver and uses a prototype Bridgestone ball based on the company’s 2026 Tour B X model.
And now Gotterup is an intriguing player to watch heading to Pebble Beach this week.
The clubs Chris Gotterup used to win the 2026 WM Phoenix Open:
Ball: Bridgestone VS Black prototype
Driver: Ping G440 LST (HZRDUS Smoke Black 70), 7.5 degrees
3-wood: TaylorMade BRNR Mini, 13.5 degrees
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi35, 18 degrees
Irons (4-9): Bridgestone 220 MB
Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 (46, 52, 56 degrees); TaylorMade Milled Grind prototype (60 degrees)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X X1
