Chris Gotterup has burst onto the scene at Augusta with an impressive Masters debut, sitting at -3 with Brooks Koepka and Ben Griffin as the tournament heads into the weekend. His power off the tee has been a major weapon, allowing him to carry drives over hazards that have tripped up players for generations at Augusta National. But it’s not just strength, Gotterup has also displayed a deft touch on the notoriously slick greens. If he can maintain this poise under weekend pressure, we may be witnessing the early stages of a future Masters contender.
Of course, history shows that chasing the green jacket is never easy, especially with a dominant leader. Defending champion Rory McIlroy has surged ahead at -12, taking a commanding six-shot lead into the weekend over Sam Burns and former champion Patrick Reed. With Augusta’s tradition of dramatic Sunday charges, the field still has a pulse, but they’ll need something special to track him down.
Not all the Garden State storylines were as promising. Max Greyserman, a Short Hills native, struggled to find his form and missed the cut at +12. After an encouraging Masters debut in 2025, where he made the cut and finished tied for 32nd, Greyserman couldn’t replicate that success this year, posting rounds of 79 and 77 on a course that will expose every weakness when you’re off your game.