Chris Gotterup is turning 2026 into a career-defining run, and the latest stop only added to the momentum.
The former Rutgers standout fired a bogey-free 9-under 62 on Sunday to win the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, finishing at 20-under par after Ben Kohles bogeyed the 18th hole and handed him the title. It was Gotterup’s fifth PGA TOUR victory overall and his third this season, following wins at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open, where he beat Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff.
Gotterup entered the final round five shots back, then played one of the cleanest closing rounds of his career to storm into contention. He birdied the par-5 17th to move into the solo lead, then waited in the clubhouse as Kohles, who had briefly joined him at 20 under, came undone on the closing hole.
The win also carried a little extra meaning. This was Gotterup’s first title at the John Deere Classic, but the tournament has been part of his PGA TOUR story from the beginning. Back in 2022, it was the site of his first start as a pro, when he finished tied for fourth on a sponsor’s exemption just after leaving college.
His brother Patrick was on the bag this week, and Gotterup made clear how much that mattered.
"I really like this tournament," Gotterup said. "To have Patrick out here with me makes it so awesome. For him to take time off and be here with me just made it a great week."
For Rutgers, the win is another reminder of how far Gotterup has carried the program’s name. The Little Silver, New Jersey native spent four seasons with head coach Rob Shutte from 2017-21 and left as the school’s career leader in scoring average, while also holding the program records for par-3, par-4, and par-5 scoring. He was Big Ten Player of the Year in 2019-20 and tied for fourth at the 2019 Big Ten Championship, still the best finish in Rutgers history.
That Rutgers connection reached another milestone this spring, when Gotterup became the first golfer in school history to play in the Masters. Shutte called it "a milestone for our program," and said Gotterup has now represented Rutgers on every major golf stage in the sport.
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