GOLF: Defending champ Chris Gotterup resets compass, no time to celebrate

Chris Gotterup had little time to celebrate after a dramatic turnaround placed him on the podium with the winner’s trophy at the John Deere Classic on Sunday.

The 26-year-old quickly shifted his focus from Silvis, Illinois, to Scotland, where he aims to carry the same momentum that powered his breakthrough victory over Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Scottish Open.

Gotterup’s rise continued after his victory at North Berwick last July, where he finished 15-under and secured a spot in the Open Championship. He made an immediate impact in his major debut, tying for third place.

Now ranked No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Gotterup enters the Scottish Open in strong form after delivering a flawless final round at TPC Deere Run. His 62 on Sunday secured the John Deere Classic title and gave him confidence ahead of his title defense at the Renaissance Club.

The rapid turnaround, however, left little time for rest or celebration.

“Getting straight back to the house, packing up and getting on a plane to Scotland, I didn’t really have time to catch up on all my stuff on my phone,” Gotterup said Tuesday. “Over the next couple of weeks when I have some time, I’ll get through it all. It’s weird, the last couple of times I’ve won, I feel like I’ve been in a rush to get to my next spot.”

After his breakthrough season, Gotterup is now among the top contenders in Scotland. He will begin the tournament on Thursday in a marquee group featuring the past three Scottish Open champions: McIlroy, the 2023 winner, and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, the 2024 champion.

“There will be a bunch of people out there, I would assume,” Gotterup said. “Hopefully I feel a few more fans rooting for me than against me than last time. It will be fun.”

Gotterup credited his time playing collegiate golf at the University of Oklahoma for helping him develop the ability to hit low, controlled shots in windy conditions — a skill that suits links golf.

However, he acknowledged that the redesigned Renaissance Club will provide a different challenge this year. The course layout has been adjusted, with several holes changing positions to improve spectator viewing, including changes around the signature par-3 15th hole.

Despite the changes, Gotterup believes the strategy remains largely the same.

“I don’t think it will change how you play the holes. More the flow is a little different of the course,” he said. “At the end of the day, I don’t think it changes much other than you’ve just got to remember what hole you’re on.”

Gotterup admitted he did not get much sleep during his flight to Scotland but said he has not felt the physical effects of playing four consecutive weeks leading into the tournament.

His goal is to continue building confidence against the world’s best players and add more trophies to his growing collection.

“I don’t know about over my skis, but there have definitely been moments where I’m like, ‘Wow, this is kind of crazy,’” Gotterup said. “But at the end of the day, you kind of take that. It’s there, and you either stand up to it or…”

For Gotterup, the experience gained from last year’s Scottish Open helped prepare him for bigger moments. He believes competing in high-profile groups and performing under pressure will be key as he continues his rise in professional golf. -Field Level Media/Reuters