Rutgers alum and New Jersey native Chris Gotterup is officially among golf’s elite.
Gotterup surged to No. 5 in the world rankings after capturing his fourth PGA victory over the weekend in Phoenix, outlasting former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama in a thrilling playoff. When the moment demanded nerves of steel, Gotterup delivered.
The Phoenix win came on the heels of another statement performance earlier this season—a victory at the 2026 Sony Open, further cementing his status as one of the hottest players on tour.
This run has been building for a while. In the UK last season, Gotterup took down defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy on the final day of the Scottish Open, then backed it up with a third-place finish at The Open Championship the following week. He didn’t just compete—he proved he belongs with the game’s biggest names.
Now all eyes turn to Augusta.
Gotterup will make his first Masters appearance in April, and the resume says he’s ready. Long off the tee with a nice touch around the greens, and unshaken under pressure, the 26-year-old has shown he thrives when the stakes are highest.
At No. 5 in the world and stacking wins against major champions, the question isn’t whether Chris Gotterup can contend at Augusta, it’s how deep into the weekend he’ll be in the hunt for the green jacket.