Collin Morikawa’s recent PGA Tour round has brought back a question that surfaced during the Ryder Cup selection process and later fell out of focus. 

At that time, the decision to choose Morikawa over Chris Gotterup drew attention, and now, after Morikawa’s difficult round at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, it's coming up once again.

On Feb. 5, the Burns Burner summed up the ongoing debate on X, noting, "We brought Collin Morikawa to Bethpage without a second guess and left Gotterup at home. Just remember that…"

At the time, Gotterup launched a late bid for a spot in Europe's Ryder Cup team. First, it was his win at the Scottish Open that saw him rise 100 spots in the rankings. He followed that with a third-place finish at the Royal Portrush in The Open.

At the same time, Morrikawa, who hadn't won anything since March, made the Ryder Cup team, while Gotterup was left out.

Now, the debate is once again open after Morikawa's Phoenix performance. Collin Morikawa entered Friday needing a strong performance to remain inside the cut line. His opening round included birdies on holes 3, 13, and 17, though momentum was difficult to sustain across the card.

As play continued on Friday, Feb. 6, Morikawa began his second round in a featured group alongside Viktor Hovland and Hideki Matsuyama. And after completing the first round at TPC Scottsdale, Morikawa carded a 1-over-par 72, leaving him tied for 76th. 

Chris Gotterup Was Having a Field Day

Meanwhile, Chris Gotterup moved into the solo lead at the WM Phoenix Open after opening with an 8-under-par 63.

Gotterup’s round gained momentum on the par-5 13th hole with an eagle putt from 27 feet, and he later added a birdie at the 16th, where he tossed his ball into the stands following the putt.

"I think to start the year, I really felt like I worked hard in the offseason to get ready for the season," Gotterup revealed as his secret behind the performance.

You can read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar