GOLF: Chris Gotterup on top, Scottie Scheffler in trouble at WM Phoenix Open

Chris Gotterup holds a two-stroke lead at the WM Phoenix Open after shooting an 8-under-par 63 in the first round at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. The round was suspended due to darkness on Thursday, with nine players still having one or two holes left to complete Friday morning.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick fired a 7-under 29 on the back nine—his first nine holes of the day—but bogeyed the last two holes to finish 6-under 65. Tied for third at 5-under 66 are Michael Thorbjornsen, Pierceson Coody, Sam Stevens, and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.

Gotterup, 26, started his bogey-free round on the back nine and jumped into the red with an eagle at the par-5 13th, sinking a 27-foot putt. He followed with birdies on the next three holes, including a 7-footer at Scottsdale’s famous par-3 16th, known as the “Stadium Hole.” Gotterup added another birdie at No. 18 and two more on the front nine to cap off a strong opening round.

“Any time you make an eagle or a nice putt, it definitely helps,” Gotterup said. “Even if I didn’t make that, I felt like I was doing the right things and managing the course well. I putted great today, but more than anything, I was in the right spot when I needed to be.”

The strong start continues a dream beginning to the 2026 season for Gotterup. He captured his third PGA Tour title at the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii and tied for 18th at the Farmers Insurance Open last week.

Fitzpatrick reflected on his round: “It’s disappointing to finish poorly after a hot start. But if you started bogey, bogey, and end up 6 under, you feel like the greatest player in the world. I’m in a good position to build on this.”

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler struggled in the first round and is at risk of missing the cut after a 2-over-par 73. He made four birdies on the back nine but immediately followed three of them with bogeys. His front-nine woes continued with a three-putt bogey at No. 1 and a double bogey at No. 2. Scheffler had previously made 65 consecutive cuts on tour.

-Field Level Media/Reuters