Chris Gotterup Outduels Matsuyama in a Thrilling WM Phoenix Open Playoff Finish
The WM Phoenix Open delivered once again. For the fifth time in the last eight years, TPC Scottsdale played host to a playoff finish-and this one had all the drama golf fans could ask for. Chris Gotterup, riding a red-hot putter and nerves of steel, birdied five of his final six holes in regulation before adding one more in sudden death to edge out Hideki Matsuyama and claim his second PGA Tour win of the year.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded on a wild Sunday in the desert.
The Final Blow: Gotterup’s Clutch Birdie in Sudden Death
The playoff began with a bang-and a bounce. Matsuyama’s tee shot clipped a spectator and ricocheted into the water, a brutal break at the worst possible time.
Gotterup, meanwhile, found the fairway and stayed poised. Matsuyama scrambled from a tough angle to give himself a par look, but Gotterup had the advantage-and he knew it.
With a birdie putt to win, Gotterup didn’t flinch. He rolled it in, sealing the victory and capping off a Sunday charge that saw him win two of the first four events of the season. That’s not just a hot start-it’s a statement.
The Lead-Up: Matsuyama, Thorbjornsen, and Scheffler All in the Mix
Before the playoff fireworks, the leaderboard was a revolving door of contenders.
Hideki Matsuyama looked primed to win his third WM Phoenix Open title, which would have put him in elite company with names like Mickelson and Palmer. He birdied the par-5 15th to take the solo lead at 17 under, but a bogey on 18-after finding the notorious church pew bunkers off the tee-opened the door for Gotterup.
Michael Thorbjornsen, still chasing his first PGA Tour victory, made a serious push with a birdie at 13 and a huge eagle at 15 to take the outright lead at 17 under. But a bogey at the stadium-style 16th, after going long and failing to get up and down, knocked him off pace. He finished just outside the playoff, but not without making a name for himself on Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, was lurking all afternoon. After scrambling just to make the cut on Friday, he went full throttle over the weekend.
Scheffler posted a bogey-free 64 on Sunday, highlighted by a 352-yard bomb off the tee at 18 and a two-putt birdie at the driveable 17th. He finished at 15 under, two shots shy of the playoff, but reminded everyone why he’s the top-ranked player in the world.
Back Nine Battles and Momentum Swings
The final nine holes at TPC Scottsdale turned into a pressure cooker. Matsuyama, who didn’t hit a single fairway on the front nine, stayed in the mix with a combination of grit and a hot putter. A chip-in birdie at the fourth and birdies on both par-3s on the front kept him afloat.
Thorbjornsen matched him shot for shot early, including a dart to two feet at the 13th. And Si Woo Kim made his presence known with an early birdie on the first to grab the outright lead, though he couldn’t sustain the momentum on the back nine.
Scheffler, meanwhile, made a 72-foot bomb from off the green late in his round to stay within striking distance. It was vintage Scheffler-calm, calculated, and threatening until the very end.
Rickie Fowler’s Flash and the Sunday Chase Pack
Rickie Fowler provided one of the highlights of the day with a hole-out from the bunker for his third straight birdie. While he didn’t factor into the final outcome, it was a reminder that the fan-favorite still has the flair to light up a leaderboard.
The chasing pack was deep, with names like Viktor Hovland, Max Homa, and Xander Schauffele all teeing it up in strong Sunday pairings, but none could mount a charge strong enough to catch the leaders.
What’s at Stake: Purse, Prestige, and Playoff Pressure
The WM Phoenix Open isn’t just a party in the desert-it’s a big-time payday. The total purse this year was $9.6 million, with Gotterup taking home $1.728 million for the win. That’s a significant leap from last year’s winner, Thomas Detry, who earned $1.656 million before heading to LIV Golf.
And for Gotterup, this win isn’t just about the money. It’s a career-defining moment-a validation of form and composure under pressure. Winning in a playoff, at a venue known for its rowdy fans and volatile finishes, adds a layer of toughness to his resume.
Playoff History at the WM Phoenix Open
This tournament has a knack for drama. Playoffs have now decided the outcome in five of the last eight years-2026, 2024, 2022, 2020, and 2018. Matsuyama had been 2-for-2 in Phoenix Open playoffs before Sunday, but Gotterup flipped the script.
Had Matsuyama pulled it off, he would’ve joined an exclusive club of three-time winners that includes Phil Mickelson, Mark Calcavecchia, Gene Littler, and Arnold Palmer. Instead, he settles for a runner-up finish in a tournament where he’s already built a legacy.
The Perfect Lead-In to Super Bowl Sunday
As tradition goes, the WM Phoenix Open wraps up just in time to hand off the sports spotlight to the Super Bowl. Even with a playoff, the timing is perfect-one of the best one-two punches in the sports calendar.
But before football takes center stage, Chris Gotterup made sure golf had its moment. With a fearless finish and a clutch playoff birdie, he left Scottsdale with the trophy-and a whole lot of momentum heading into the rest of the PGA Tour season.