Gotterup beats Matsuyama in playoff to win Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chris Gotterup did his half, charging up the Phoenix Open leaderboard with a closing flourish of 5 birdies in six holes.

As he stored free on the primary tee at TPC Scottsdale, the 26-year-old knew he would wish some assist with Hideki Matsuyama nonetheless on the course with a one-shot lead.

Gotterup bought what he wanted with a wild tee shot by Matsuyama on 18 and took benefit when the Japanese star did it once more within the playoff.

Gotterup shot 7-under 64 and gained with a protracted birdie putt on the primary gap of a playoff Sunday after Matsuyama pulled his tee shot into the water. 

“You by no means know what to anticipate,” Gotterup stated. “We went over to the primary tee, hit a pair balls, was watching, after which hastily you’re on the market on 18 and everybody goes nuts and also you’re like, all proper, that is it.”

The chief by one heading into the ultimate spherical, Matsuyama had transformed all of his earlier 5 54-hole leads into wins, however limped to the end.

The 2-time Phoenix Open champion almost hit his tee shot within the water left of the reachable par-4 seventeenth, resulting in a par, and pulled his drive on 18 left into the church pew bunkers — his eleventh missed fairway of the day. 

Matsuyama hit his second shot into the face of the bunker and could not get up-and-down from 43 yards to ship the match to a playoff. He shot 68 to match Gotterup at 16-under 268.

“I wished to keep away from the playoff as a lot as I may, however I simply hit a nasty tee shot there in regulation at 18,” Matsuyama stated by an interpreter.

Gotterup, winner of the season-opening Sony Open, closed with a three-foot birdie on 18 in regulation regardless of hitting his tee shot close to the grandstands proper and he watched Matsuyama end in between swings off the primary tee. 

The long-hitting Gotterup wished to place stress on Matsuyama within the playoff and did, uncorking an enormous drive down the precise aspect of the golf green.

Matsuyama yanked his tee shot even additional left than he did in regulation, caroming it off the far financial institution of the lake into the water. He hit his third shot onto the inexperienced after a drop, however Gotterup left little question by sinking his 27-foot birdie putt for his fourth profession PGA Tour win — second in three begins this season.

“I really feel assured in what I’m doing and really feel like I’ve performed effectively sufficient to really feel assured to have the ability to be in these positions,” Gotterup stated. “Thus far, I’ve been in a position to capitalize on these.”

He and the remainder of the sphere needed to endure a cost from Scottie Scheffler.

The world’s No. 1 participant went from being at risk of the lacking the minimize with a shaky first spherical to turning heads as his identify moved towards the highest of the leaderboard. 

The 2-time Phoenix Open champion had a run of 4 birdies in 5 holes on the again 9 to drag inside a shot, however could not reap the benefits of an enormous drive on 18. He closed with a 64 to complete in a five-way tie for third at 15 below.

Matsuyama gained consecutive Phoenix Opens in 2016 and 2017, rallying each instances.

The Japanese star began the ultimate spherical with a one-shot lead over 4 gamers with a number of others nonetheless within the hunt — led by Scheffler.

The world No. 1 opened the game’s rowdiest match with a 73, then shot 65 within the second spherical to increase the PGA Tour’s longest energetic cuts streak to 66.

Scheffler was seven behind after the second spherical, trimmed it to 5 after the third and began inching up the leaderboard Sunday. 

Scheffler had three birdies on the entrance 9 and a run of three straight on the again — highlighted by a 72-foot putt from the perimeter on 14 — pulled him inside one of many lead. A two-putt for birdie from 63 toes on 17 to bought Scheffler again inside one, however he missed a 24-foot birdie putt on 18 to see his cost fall quick.

“I performed fairly effectively — just one spherical the place I didn’t have my finest stuff,” Scheffler stated. “If I get in the home the primary day with a pair below par it’s a bit totally different story immediately.”

Gotterup ended up writing the ultimate chapter — with some assist from Matsuyama.