Nick Rodger – The Herald Scotland
- Chris Gotterup won the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open, securing his biggest career victory and a spot in the Open Championship.
- Gotterup, ranked 158th in the world before the tournament, held off a competitive field including Rory McIlroy to win by two strokes.
- He overcame a slow play warning and early bunker trouble to finish with a 4-under 66, earning a $1.5 million prize.
The underdog became the top dog at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open. Not so much a turn up for the books, more a Gotterup for them?
Hopelessly contrived article introductions aside, this was a wonderful win for Chris Gotterup as the 25-year-old American, who was ranked 158th in the world at the start of the week, claimed the biggest title of his career.
Having stood firm to stave off a chasing pack that included the Masters champion and world No 2, Rory McIlroy, Gotterup could allow himself a wobble at the end.
“I’m not going to be able to keep it together,” he said with a tear in his eye as the magnitude of the moment began to sink in.
As well as the coveted title — and a check for some $1.5 million — Gotterup also earned a spot in this week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush. It was a decent day’s work.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
His canny, composed 4-under 66 gave him a 15-under total and a two-shot victory over McIlroy and the spirited Englishman, Marco Penge.
“I definitely was the villain out there today,” Gotterup added with a smile. “There were a lot of cries of ‘Rory’ and not many of ‘Chris’.”
In the heat of the battle, Gotterup also had to contend with a warning from an official for slow play.
“[Our group] got warned on 13 for pace, which was a little odd because we were waiting all day,” he said. “Then on 15, I got individually timed, which was shocking. That got my blood going a little bit more than it was already going trying to win a golf tournament.”
Nobody said winning was easy. At one stage of the afternoon, there were five players tied at the top.
In addition to McIlroy, the emergence on the leaderboard of the likes of Matthew Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland and World No 1, Scottie Scheffler, should’ve been accompanied by the kind of ominous rumbling you’d hear when heavy artillery gets maneuvered into a strategic position.
Gotterup was up for the fight, though. Well, after an initial misfire. “I hit it in the bunker on the first hole and was like, ‘oh, s**t, here we go,” said Gotterup who was sharing the lead with McIlroy heading into the final round.
That early diversion into the sand didn’t alter his course and his tenacious efforts kept him right in the thick of it.
McIlroy seemed to be taking charge as he moved to the front with a trio of birdies on the front nine but after a 20-footer on the eighth, those birdies dried up.
The 2023 Scottish Open champion didn’t make another over his last 10 holes.
By the 12th, Gotterup was two clear of the pack. He missed a good chance to extend that on 13 then stumbled to a bogey on the next. The door was still ajar.
Gotterup, though, remained as sturdy as the rock of Fidra Island and a birdie on 16 pushed him towards a mighty triumph.
The Maryland man had been planning to fly to the west coast of America for a PGA Tour event this week. Instead, he’s nipping over to Northern Ireland for an Open debut.
“I’m happy I’m not flying from here to California,” he said as he cancelled those transatlantic flights.
Gotterup, who will now vault into the world’s top-50, made his breakthrough on the PGA Tour at Myrtle Beach last season. This win, though, is on a different level.
“A lot of people say that the second one is harder just because you have expectations and whatnot,” he said. “It’s definitely more a validation this week. Myrtle Beach was amazing, but this one is the next step.
“I knew today was going to be a battle and Rory is one of the best to ever do it. I’m happy I edged him out.”
