Chris Gotterup shot a bogey-free eight-under-par 63 and topped the leaderboard following the first round of the WM Phoenix Open. He even surpassed Scottie Scheffler, who’s at T89 with a score of two-over-par 73. 

Gotterup arrived at the PGA Tour in 2024 after competing on the Korn Ferry Tour for three seasons. But are the experiences and comfort levels at the two tours different? 

Talking to the media at TPC Scottsdale, the three-time PGA Tour winner agreed, “It's totally different. When you're coming off the Korn Ferry Tour, you're in the back of the bus and finishing oftentimes on Saturday mornings.”

“It's hard to get adjusted, but I feel like I played well and kind of worked my way up the ladder a little bit. I think the thing about the TOUR is it never stops. Someone is going to be coming. You always got to keep your foot on the pedal.”

The issues can also be attributed to the PGA Tour’s deeper fields and more relentless weekly schedules. And Chris Gotterup shall not rest easy with a field of 123 (now 122, after Emilio Gonzalez withdrew). 

At the American Express, Blades Brown shared the leaderboard with Scheffler after the first couple of rounds. But in the end, it was the world number one who dominated the field alone and won. And that’s the kind of thrill that excites players like Gotterup. 

He continued, “It's been fun to kind of get to where we are now.”

But what’s the secret to his early dominance?

Chris Gotterup Reveals the Secret to His Performance

The 26-year-old teamed up with the Atlanta Drive GC during the second season of Tomorrow’s Golf League. And that off-season action seemed to have kept Gotterup prepared for the new season. 

After winning the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii, he said, “I feel like I worked hard in the offseason to get ready for the season.”

“Playing in the Tomorrow’s Golf League in the offseason and getting used to the adrenaline rush you get when you’re in there helped. Being able to hit shots under pressure has helped, and it’s nice to have a good start to the year.”

Gotterup has set the pace early. Now, he’s chasing consistency to convert this fast start into another statement win.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Joyita Das