01/18/26 10:27:00
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01/18 22:25 CST Chris Gotterup opens PGA Tour season by winning Sony Open for
his 3rd straight year with a title
Chris Gotterup opens PGA Tour season by winning Sony Open for his 3rd straight
year with a title
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
HONOLULU (AP) --- Chris Gotterup had leis draped around his neck, a flute of
champagne in one hand and the gold Sony Open trophy in the other for the
traditional toast from the Waialae members Sunday evening. He's loved coming to
Hawaii, even if the occasion was never worth celebrating.
He was part of the rookie class that came to Honolulu in 2024 for orientation,
only to be told there was no room for them in the field. He missed the cut a
year ago, falling to No. 195 in the world.
On Sunday, he pulled away with a combination of power and putting for a 6-under
64 to win the Sony Open by two shots, giving him three victories in three years
on the PGA Tour and moving him closer to golf's A-list.
"I just felt like this week I was in a good frame of mind, just happy to be
here," Gotterup said. "I felt like I was in control of my brain, which is the
most important thing. I drove it great and made some putts when it mattered."
He finished at 16-under 264 and moved to No. 17 in the world.
Ryan Gerard birdied his last two holes for a 65 to finish alone in second. He
flew to Mauritius at the end of last year and was runner-up to move into the
top 50 and secure a spot in his first Masters. Now he's just outside the top 30.
Patrick Rodgers had another chance at his first PGA Tour victory, but he went
without a birdie on the back nine until the final hole. He closed with a 65 to
finish third.
"Unfortunately, didn't have a hot putter today," said Rodgers, who now has nine
top 3s since 2015.
Gotterup had a dream week, in control of his game at Waialae, cruising the
streets of Waikiki at night to get away from golf. On Sunday, he got a little
help from 54-hole leader Davis Riley, who had a pair of birdies through five
holes before his bid ended in a span of four holes.
He had consecutive three-putt bogeys from long range, and then followed with a
wild drive into the trees left of the eighth fairway that led to double bogey.
He went from a two-shot lead to three shots behind and never caught up, closing
with a 71 to tie for sixth.
But then, Gotterup didn't give anyone much of a chance.
"It was anyone's tournament," Gotterup said. "Then I made a couple nice putts
and I saw a couple people drop back. I know Ryan played a great tournament and
he tried to make a run at the end. Couple other guys played great and I just
held them off."
Even on an old-school Waialae course with doglegs framed by royal palms, he
pounded away with tee shots of 330-plus yards early on the back nine. But it
was his putter that ultimately made a difference.
Gotterup holed a 20-footer on No. 12, and then poured in a 25-foot putt on the
13th, the toughest hole on the course. He all but clinched it with a tee shot
that landed perfectly between the pin and the bunker on the par-3 17th for a
final birdie.
He said the course reminded him of a home, and Gotterup has a lot of those
lately --- raised in New Jersey and three years at Rutgers, a senior season at
Oklahoma where he stayed until recently moving to Florida.
This reference was Jersey, mainly the shape of the holes and the shots required.
"Just the way you play the golf course reminds me a lot of how I grew up
playing," Gotterup said. "So that is a comforting feeling. I know the kind of
golf that's required ... and it's a fine line of bomb-and-gouge and also
needing to be in the fairway. I did enough of finding the fairway this week."
The Sony Open was the latest start to the PGA Tour season because The Sentry at
Kapalua on Maui was canceled due to a water dispute that had the course brown
in September.
The final round at Waialae was played under a vibe that this might be the last
of Hawaii on the tour. The Sony Open title sponsorship expires this year, and
there is a movement to start the tour season later than ever in 2027 and going
forward, either right before or after the Super Bowl.
"Hopefully," Gotterup said, "I'm not the last champion."
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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