Chris Gotterup birdie binge steals WM Phoenix Open in playoff

Chris Gotterup birdied five of the six last holes on Sunday and added one more for good measure in a sudden-death playoff to win the WM Phoenix Open over Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. 

Gotterup, 26, closed in 7-under 64, making nine birdies on the day at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course to win for the second time in the first four tournaments. Just a few weeks ago, he won the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Gotterup opened with 63 but entered the final round four strokes behind Matsuyama, who fought his driver in the final round, failing to hit a fairway on the front nine. Asked earlier in the week why he loved the TPC Scottsdale course, he said, "I like this course because even if I miss a fairway, I can still find my ball. Unless it's in the cactuses."

He scraped it around and birdied 15 to reach 17 under and held a one-stroke lead on the 18^th tee. Matsuyama’s erratic driver finally cost him at 18 when he pulled his tee shot into one of the church pew bunkers. His second shot, a gap wedge from 123 yards, failed to clear the mound and his ball ended up 43 yards short. He pitched from the left intermediate rough to 24 feet and missed for his lone bogey of the day and his first dropped shot on the back nine for the entire week. He and Gotterup tied with a 72-hole total of 16-under 268 and returned to the 18^th tee for sudden death.

After Gotterup blasted his tee shot into the fairway, Matsuyama stopped his swing when he was disturbed by an unruly fan. He re-set and then snap-hooked his tee shot into the water. Gotterup flipped a lob wedge from 90 yards to 15 feet and poured in the putt to seal the deal.

"HE HAS GAME!"

Chris Gotterup wins the @WMPhoenixOpen in a playoff. pic.twitter.com/FeuwCu6eWc

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) February 8, 2026

Gotterup collected his fourth career Tour title and was left in tears during his winner's interview.

"You always make me do this," he said to CBS's Amanda Balionis.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Chris Gotterup wins 2026 WM Phoenix Open in playoff for fourth PGA Tour win