46M AGO
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 08: Chris Gotterup of the United States poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the WM Phoenix Open 2026 at TPC Scottsdale on February 08, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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Written by Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chris Gotterup shot 7-under 64 and won the WM Phoenix Open with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff Sunday after Hideki Matsuyama pulled his tee shot into the water.
The leader by one heading into the final round, Matsuyama had converted all of his previous five 54-hole leads into wins, but limped to the finish at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
The two-time WM Phoenix Open champion nearly hit his tee shot in the water left of the reachable par-4 17th and pulled his drive on 18 left into the church pew bunkers — his 11th missed fairway of the day. Matsuyama hit his second shot into the face of the bunker and couldn’t get up-and-down from 43 yards to send the tournament to a playoff. He shot 68 to match Gotterup at 16-under 268.
Chris Gotterup’s emotional interview after winning Farmers
Gotterup, winner of the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii, closed with five birdies on his final six holes and stayed loose by hitting balls off the first tee before uncorking a massive drive on 18 in the playoff.
Matsuyama yanked his tee shot even further left than he did in regulation, caroming it off the bank of the lake into the water. He hit his third shot onto the green after a drop, but Gotterup left no doubt by sinking his birdie putt for his fourth career PGA TOUR win — second in three starts this season.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler went from being in danger of missing the cut with a shaky first round to turning heads as his name moved toward the top of the leaderboard.
Chris Gotterup hits 130-yard approach to 3 feet, birdies No. 18 at Phoenix
The two-time WM Phoenix Open champion had a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine to pull within a shot, but couldn’t take advantage of a massive drive on 18. He closed with a 64 to finish in a five-way tie for third at 15 under.
Matsuyama won consecutive WM Phoenix Opens in 2016 and 2017, rallying both times.
The Japanese star started the final round with a one-shot lead over four players with several others still in the hunt — led by Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler holes out from 72 feet for birdie on No. 14 at WM Phoenix Open
The world No. 1 opened the sport’s rowdiest tournament with a 73, then shot 65 in the second round to extend the PGA TOUR’s longest active cuts streak to 66.
Scheffler was seven behind after the second round, trimmed it to five after the third and started inching up the leaderboard unday.
Scheffler had three birdies on the front nine and a run of three straight on the back — highlighted by a 72-foot putt from the fringe on No. 14 — pulled him within one of the lead. A two-putt for birdie from 63 feet on No. 17 to got Scheffler back within one, but he missed a 24-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to see his charge fall short.
