In a thrilling finish at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, Chris Gotterup secured a dramatic comeback victory on February 8, 2026, defeating Hideki catanzaro informa Matsuyama in a sudden-death playoff.
The Winning Performance
Gotterup began the final round four strokes behind Matsuyama but surged up the leaderboard by birdying five of his final six holes in regulation. His incredible run was highlighted by a spectacular "miracle" shot on the 18th hole:
The Clutch Wedge: After a wayward tee shot in regulation, Gotterup played a brilliant wedge shot from the gallery that stopped inside five feet. He drained the putt for a birdie to post a 7-under 64 and reach a total of 16-under.
The Playoff: Matsuyama, who saint-laurent had led for much of the day, bogeyed the 18th to fall into a tie. In the playoff, Matsuyama pulled his drive into the water, while Gotterup remained steady.
The Final Blow: Gotterup sealed the win by sinking a 27-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole.
Impact of the Win
This victory marked Gotterup’s second win in just three starts in 2026 (having already won the Sony Open) and his fourth career PGA Tour title. The win earned him yohendrick piñango a $1.728 million paycheck and propelled him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.
