Gotterup wins Phoenix Open on first
playoff hole as Matsuyama limps to the finish
[February 09, 2026]
By JOHN MARSHALL
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chris Gotterup did his part, charging up
the Phoenix Open leaderboard with a closing flourish of five birdies
in six holes.
As he kept loose on the first tee at TPC Scottsdale, the 26-year-old
knew he would need some help with Hideki Matsuyama still on the
course with a one-shot lead.
Gotterup got what he needed with a wild tee shot by Matsuyama on 18
and took advantage when the Japanese star did it again in the
playoff.
Gotterup shot 7-under 64 and won with a long birdie putt on the
first hole of a playoff Sunday after Matsuyama pulled his tee shot
into the water.
“You never know what to expect,” Gotterup said. “We went over to the
first tee, hit a couple balls, was watching, and then all of a
sudden you’re out there on 18 and everyone is going nuts and you’re
like, all right, this is it.”
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.
The two-time Phoenix Open champion nearly hit his tee shot in the
water left of the reachable par-4 17th, leading to a par, 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.
“I wanted to avoid the playoff as much as I could, but I just hit a
bad tee shot there in regulation at 18,” Matsuyama said through an
interpreter.
Gotterup, winner of the season-opening Sony Open, closed with a
3-foot birdie on 18 in regulation despite hitting his tee shot near
the grandstands right and he watched Matsuyama finish in between
swings off the first tee.
The long-hitting Gotterup wanted to put pressure on Matsuyama in the
playoff and did, uncorking a massive drive down the right side of
the fairway.
Matsuyama yanked his tee shot even further left than he did in
regulation, caroming it off the far 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 27-foot birdie putt for his fourth career
PGA Tour win — second in three starts this season.
“I feel confident in what I’m doing and feel like I have played well
enough to feel confident to be able to be in those positions,”
Gotterup said. “So far, I’ve been able to capitalize on those.”
He and the rest of the field had to endure a charge from Scottie
Scheffler.
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Chris Gotterup celebrates his win after sinking a birdie putt on the
first playoff hole at the 18th green during the final round of the
Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale,
Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The world's No. 1 player went from being in danger
of the missing the cut with a shaky first round to turning heads as
his name moved toward the top of the leaderboard.
The two-time 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 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.
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 Sunday.
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 14 — pulled him within one of the lead. A two-putt for birdie
from 63 feet on 17 to got Scheffler back within one, but he missed a
24-foot birdie putt on 18 to see his charge fall short.
“I played pretty well — only one round where I didn’t have my best
stuff,” Scheffler said. “If I get in the house the first day with a
couple under par it’s a little different story today.”
Gotterup ended up writing the final chapter — with some help from
Matsuyama.
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