SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chris Gotterup appears to have mastered TPC Scottsdale, providing him an opportunity to finally experience the Saturday excitement of the Phoenix Open.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler will need to perform exceptionally in his next round if he hopes to make it to the weekend.
Gotterup recorded a bogey-free 8-under 63, securing a two-shot advantage on Thursday during the first round of the Phoenix Open, on a day when Scheffler faced difficulties.
“I can’t say if the course has changed at all,” Gotterup remarked, having missed the cut in his previous two appearances at TPC Scottsdale. “I just feel like my game has improved and I’m managing it better. We were returning from TGL and I thought, I need to experience Saturday here this week.”
Gotterup will have that opportunity following a warm day—unusual even for the desert—that led to some impressive drives and low scores.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick equaled the back-nine record with a 29, finishing with a score of 65. Sam Stevens was part of a group of four players at 66, while 26 players recorded scores of 68 or better before play was halted due to darkness.
Scheffler was not among those achieving low scores. The four-time player of the year mishandled two chip shots that rolled back to him during a 2-over 73, putting his streak of 65 consecutive cuts at risk.
Brooks Koepka also faced challenges. The five-time major champion managed only one birdie in a 75 during his second tournament since being reinstated by the PGA Tour.
Gotterup, 26, shot a final-round 64 at the season-opening Sony Open in Oahu, marking his third victory in three seasons on the PGA Tour. He tied for 18th at Torrey Pines last week.
He ignited his round on Thursday by sinking a 27-foot eagle putt from just off the green on the par-5 13th hole. He enjoyed the enthusiastic cheers at the stadium par-3 16th by making a 7-footer for his third consecutive birdie and added another on 18 to turn in 6-under 30.
Gotterup two-putted for birdie on the par-5 third and made a 26-footer on the long par-3 seventh to match the opening 63 he achieved in Hawaii.
“I feel like I’m executing well and thinking clearly, and I believe that’s the most crucial aspect,” Gotterup stated. “I wouldn’t claim that I drove it my best today or did anything extraordinary, (but) my putting was excellent.”
Fitzpatrick began with birdies on Nos. 10 and 11, then experienced a setback after a run of five straight starting on No. 13. He finished 7 under, tying the back-nine record with seven others, and added another birdie on the par-5 third before faltering at the end with two closing bogeys.
The 2022 U.S. Open champion has not secured a victory since the 2023 RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
“If someone had told me here is 6 under to start the day and I could stay in bed, I would have taken that offer,” Fitzpatrick commented. “I’m in a strong position to begin with and hopefully can build on it.”
