"Not Get Too Over My Skis": Chris Gotterup Stays Grounded Amid Rising Buzz
Chris Gotterup USA, OCTOBER 9, 2025 - Golf : Baycurrent Classic Presented by LEXUS 1st round at Yokohama Country Club, Kanagawa, Japan. Noxthirdxpartyxsales PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxJPN aflo_306437238
Chris Gotterup USA, OCTOBER 9, 2025 - Golf : Baycurrent Classic Presented by LEXUS 1st round at Yokohama Country Club, Kanagawa, Japan. Noxthirdxpartyxsales PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxJPN aflo_306437238
Chris Gotterup's current form has been stunning, but the World No. 5 doesn't want to lose his focus because of his recent success.
The 26-year-old from New Jersey recently spoke to the media ahead of the start of his Pebble Beach Pro-Am campaign. He intended to keep his head down despite all the hype.
Gotterup said, "I'm just trying to keep my head on straight and not get too over my skis."
July 27th, 2025: Chris Gotterup of the United States hits his shot on the second tee during the final round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 27th, 2025 in Blaine, Minnesota. -CSM Blaine USA - ZUMAc04_ 20250727_zma_c04_039 Copyright: xStevenxGarciax
July 27th, 2025: Chris Gotterup of the United States hits his shot on the second tee during the final round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 27th, 2025 in Blaine, Minnesota. -CSM Blaine USA - ZUMAc04_ 20250727_zma_c04_039 Copyright: xStevenxGarciax
Looking at this recent success, it can be safely said that a calm approach is working well for the 26-year-old.
Gotterup beat Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff at the WM Phoenix Open on February 9, 2026. Previously, he also won the Sony Open in Hawaii by two strokes on January 18, and has triumphed in three of his last 10 tournaments.
At this time last year, Gotterup ranked 206th in the world and failed to qualify for Pebble Beach.
Chris Gotterup's Journey From Transfer Student to World-Class Golfer
Gotterup began his college career at Rutgers and earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 2020. Then he moved to Oklahoma for his final college year in 2021.
That one season at Oklahoma changed everything. He averaged 69.8 strokes in 13 events and won the East Lake Cup and Puerto Rico Classic. He also won collegiate golf’s top individual awards, the Fred Haskins Award and the Jack Nicklaus Award.
Last season, he missed seven of his first 10 cuts but bounced back to win the Scottish Open and finish third at The Open. This year, the key difference is consistency.
Gotterup will play in the Masters for the first time in April 2026. He has never seen Augusta National in person, not even as a fan, because he wanted his first view of the course to be as a competitor.
For now, he’s focused on Pebble Beach, a course full of special memories. He first played there at 13 after shooting 2-under 69 at his home club.
This Thursday, he returns to the same course as one of the favorites.
Do you think he can win big again and make it three victories in four events?
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Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Souvik Roy