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Scotsman
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish Open winner got 'blood going' in Rory McIlroy battle after 'shocking' slow-play call
Gotterup lands biggest win of his career to qualify for The Open along with Hojgaard and Schmid Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Add Chris Gotterup to the occasional surprise name on the Genesis Scottish Open roll of honour but, as Rory McIlroy was the first to admit, please let's give him the credit he deserves. 'Chris played a great round of golf,' said McIlroy of the American signing off with a four-under-par 66 in the same group as the 2023 winner to land a two-shot success at The Renaissance Club with a 15-under-par total. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On a day when play was painfully slow, the final group had been put on the clock at the 13th before Gotterup was told he was the one being individually timed two holes later. He described that as 'shocking' but, at the same time, reckoned it had got his 'blood going'. American Chris Gotterup shows off the trophy after winning the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club |It was a positive response, though, and the powerful 25-year-old was smiling at the end of the round as he landed this coveted title at the second attempt, clinching a spot in next week's 153rd The Open at Royal Portrush. 'Amazing,' he declared of a title triumph worth $1.575 million. 'I know this tournament is special to Scotland and everyone in the golf world. I mean, you look at the names on the board, they have it in the gym every day, and happy to put my name up next to those guys.' The majority of those in a sell-out last-day crowd wanted to see McIlroy come out on top once again on the East Lothian coast, but it wasn't to be on this occasion in the $9 million Rolex Series event. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After starting the day tied for the lead with Gotterup, a closing 73 left the grand slam winner having to settle for a share of second spot with Englishman Marco Penge. It was McIlroy's best performance, though, since winning The Masters in April and he's heading home with a spring his step for The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. 'It's been a great week,' insisted McIlroy. 'I'm really happy with where my game is; the way I played over the weekend; the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight. It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.' Gotterup's sole trophy success on the PGA Tour prior to this one came in last year's Myrtle Beach Classic last year. He'd moved into contention here on the back of a record-equalling nine-under-par 61 on Friday and, boy, did he handle playing in the same group as McIlroy in the closing circuit extremely well indeed. Chris Gotterup celebrates after putting on the 18th green at The Renaissance Club |He'd moved two ahead after 13 holes before missing a golden chance at the par-3 14th to go further in front before then taking a bogey at the 15th. It was gutsy stuff, though, when he bounced back with a birdie at the par-5 16th and, unlike two years earlier, there was no birdie-birdie finish from McIlroy this time around. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He was so solid,' said McIlroy of the new champion. 'Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. Yeah, after he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back.' As a sun-kissed event ended under a grey sky as the haar that didn't prove the problem it might have earlier in the day re-appeared, Gotterup was able to play the last two holes without feeling any huge pressure apart from the fact the world No 158 - he's now inside the top 50 - was bidding to land the biggest win of his career. 'It was sort of hard to (press),' said McIlroy. 'It was pretty windy. It has hard to get the ball super close. I gave myself plenty of chances coming down the stretch I felt like I hit good putts but I feel like the greens deteriorated as the week went on and just got a little bumpy. I had some putts and some looks that felt like I hit good putts that just didn't go in, whether they were mis-reads or poor speed here and there.' Gotterup missed the cut on his debut in this event, but, after making it through to the weekend on this occasion, he was always there or thereabouts over the final two rounds. His closing effort contained six birdies, including four in five holes around the turn as McIlroy tried to apply some pressure along with fellow major winners Matthew Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I knew today was going to be a battle and Rory is one of the best to ever do it,' he said of his playing partner, with 2023 US Open winner Wyndham Clark also being in the group. 'Happy I edged him out. It wasn't going to be an easy day. Rory McIlroy, the 2023 winner, was happy with his week's work in the Genesis Scottish Open |'There were a bunch of guys at nine under (at the start of the day). So I knew someone was going to do something. But I really settled in nicely to the round after the first hole (which he bogeyed) and didn't really look back.' McIlroy is due to hold a pre-event press conference at 2pm on Monday at Portrush but, to his credit, the world No 2 was happy to speak briefly to reporters before dashing off to catch a 9pm slot at Edinburgh airport for his private jet. 'No frustration, really,' he insisted of how his week had ended. 'I'm really happy with where everything is. Looking forward to getting to Portrush tonight and getting out on to the golf course early tomorrow and just turning my attention to that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But I feel like I've gotten out of this week everything, really, that I wanted.I feel like my game got a little better each and every day. I controlled my ball flight,iron play was great. I feel like I did enough good things off the tee. Everything is in a really good spot and I'm happy with how my game progressed as the week went on.'
Powys County Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Chris Gotterup holds off Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and claim Open spot
Chris Gotterup held off the challenge of Rory McIlroy to claim his maiden DP World Tour title at the Genesis Scottish Open and a ticket to next week's Open Championship. The 25-year-old American, who went into the final day as joint leader with the Northern Irishman on 11 under par, carded a 66 to finish on 15 under, two shots clear of the field at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. McIlroy's hopes of heading for Royal Portrush with another title under his belt faded away as a round of 68 left him in a tie for second place with England's Marco Penge, who also shot 66, on 13 under. The moment that sealed it 👏 #GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 Gotterup told Sky Sports: 'Amazing. It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week. I knew today was going to be tough and I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style. 'I felt pretty good, shockingly, on the first tee today, I felt comfortable. I knew I was playing well this week and I felt like I was ready for the challenge. That's why I practise and that's why I play, to play against the best. 'It was a pleasure to be out there with [McIlroy] and obviously all the support that he gets is amazing, but it was nice to kind of ruin that a little bit.' McIlroy had set off in unpromising fashion, dropping a shot at the par-five third, but then registered back-to-back birdie threes on the next two holes to move to 12 under, and then needed a fine par putt to stay on that mark after finding the bunker on seven. Gotterup had a similarly up and down start, bogeying the opening hole before picking up birdies at the third and the seventh to keep pace with the Masters champion. Both men picked up further shots at the next hole and parred the ninth to go into the turn on 33 and still locked together. With England's Matt Fitzpatrick closing to within a shot of the leaders with an eagle three at the 10th, both men missed the fairway from the tee as they followed him, but after McIlroy's birdie putt had stayed up, Gotterup sank his to take the lead in his own right as Fitzpatrick went to 13 under, only to drop a shot at the 12th. McIlroy recovered from a wayward drive to make par at the 11th, where Gotterup also made a four after over-hitting his first putt, and it was he who took a significant step forward at the 12th with a birdie two to go two shots clear. The winning moment 📸 #GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 The American pushed his tee shot at the next and ended up off the green with his second, but got up and down to save par and preserve his advantage, which remained intact as the players headed for the 15th. A dropped shot on 15 left him just one to the good with three to play, and although he pushed his tee shot into the rough at the par-five 16th, he emerged with a four to McIlroy's five to go back to 15 under, and with two putts to win on 18, he made no mistake.
South Wales Guardian
13-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Chris Gotterup holds off Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and claim Open spot
The 25-year-old American, who went into the final day as joint leader with the Northern Irishman on 11 under par, carded a 66 to finish on 15 under, two shots clear of the field at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. McIlroy's hopes of heading for Royal Portrush with another title under his belt faded away as a round of 68 left him in a tie for second place with England's Marco Penge, who also shot 66, on 13 under. The moment that sealed it 👏#GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 Gotterup told Sky Sports: 'Amazing. It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week. I knew today was going to be tough and I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style. 'I felt pretty good, shockingly, on the first tee today, I felt comfortable. I knew I was playing well this week and I felt like I was ready for the challenge. That's why I practise and that's why I play, to play against the best. 'It was a pleasure to be out there with [McIlroy] and obviously all the support that he gets is amazing, but it was nice to kind of ruin that a little bit.' McIlroy had set off in unpromising fashion, dropping a shot at the par-five third, but then registered back-to-back birdie threes on the next two holes to move to 12 under, and then needed a fine par putt to stay on that mark after finding the bunker on seven. Gotterup had a similarly up and down start, bogeying the opening hole before picking up birdies at the third and the seventh to keep pace with the Masters champion. Both men picked up further shots at the next hole and parred the ninth to go into the turn on 33 and still locked together. With England's Matt Fitzpatrick closing to within a shot of the leaders with an eagle three at the 10th, both men missed the fairway from the tee as they followed him, but after McIlroy's birdie putt had stayed up, Gotterup sank his to take the lead in his own right as Fitzpatrick went to 13 under, only to drop a shot at the 12th. McIlroy recovered from a wayward drive to make par at the 11th, where Gotterup also made a four after over-hitting his first putt, and it was he who took a significant step forward at the 12th with a birdie two to go two shots clear. The winning moment 📸#GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 The American pushed his tee shot at the next and ended up off the green with his second, but got up and down to save par and preserve his advantage, which remained intact as the players headed for the 15th. A dropped shot on 15 left him just one to the good with three to play, and although he pushed his tee shot into the rough at the par-five 16th, he emerged with a four to McIlroy's five to go back to 15 under, and with two putts to win on 18, he made no mistake. Nicolai Hojgaard, who tied with Fitzpatrick for fourth place, and Matti Schmid also claimed Open spots.
Leader Live
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Chris Gotterup holds off Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and claim Open spot
The 25-year-old American, who went into the final day as joint leader with the Northern Irishman on 11 under par, carded a 66 to finish on 15 under, two shots clear of the field at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. McIlroy's hopes of heading for Royal Portrush with another title under his belt faded away as a round of 68 left him in a tie for second place with England's Marco Penge, who also shot 66, on 13 under. The moment that sealed it 👏#GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 Gotterup told Sky Sports: 'Amazing. It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week. I knew today was going to be tough and I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style. 'I felt pretty good, shockingly, on the first tee today, I felt comfortable. I knew I was playing well this week and I felt like I was ready for the challenge. That's why I practise and that's why I play, to play against the best. 'It was a pleasure to be out there with [McIlroy] and obviously all the support that he gets is amazing, but it was nice to kind of ruin that a little bit.' McIlroy had set off in unpromising fashion, dropping a shot at the par-five third, but then registered back-to-back birdie threes on the next two holes to move to 12 under, and then needed a fine par putt to stay on that mark after finding the bunker on seven. Gotterup had a similarly up and down start, bogeying the opening hole before picking up birdies at the third and the seventh to keep pace with the Masters champion. Both men picked up further shots at the next hole and parred the ninth to go into the turn on 33 and still locked together. With England's Matt Fitzpatrick closing to within a shot of the leaders with an eagle three at the 10th, both men missed the fairway from the tee as they followed him, but after McIlroy's birdie putt had stayed up, Gotterup sank his to take the lead in his own right as Fitzpatrick went to 13 under, only to drop a shot at the 12th. McIlroy recovered from a wayward drive to make par at the 11th, where Gotterup also made a four after over-hitting his first putt, and it was he who took a significant step forward at the 12th with a birdie two to go two shots clear. The winning moment 📸#GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 The American pushed his tee shot at the next and ended up off the green with his second, but got up and down to save par and preserve his advantage, which remained intact as the players headed for the 15th. A dropped shot on 15 left him just one to the good with three to play, and although he pushed his tee shot into the rough at the par-five 16th, he emerged with a four to McIlroy's five to go back to 15 under, and with two putts to win on 18, he made no mistake. Nicolai Hojgaard, who tied with Fitzpatrick for fourth place, and Matti Schmid also claimed Open spots.
Rhyl Journal
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Chris Gotterup holds off Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and claim Open spot
The 25-year-old American, who went into the final day as joint leader with the Northern Irishman on 11 under par, carded a 66 to finish on 15 under, two shots clear of the field at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. McIlroy's hopes of heading for Royal Portrush with another title under his belt faded away as a round of 68 left him in a tie for second place with England's Marco Penge, who also shot 66, on 13 under. The moment that sealed it 👏#GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 Gotterup told Sky Sports: 'Amazing. It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week. I knew today was going to be tough and I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style. 'I felt pretty good, shockingly, on the first tee today, I felt comfortable. I knew I was playing well this week and I felt like I was ready for the challenge. That's why I practise and that's why I play, to play against the best. 'It was a pleasure to be out there with [McIlroy] and obviously all the support that he gets is amazing, but it was nice to kind of ruin that a little bit.' McIlroy had set off in unpromising fashion, dropping a shot at the par-five third, but then registered back-to-back birdie threes on the next two holes to move to 12 under, and then needed a fine par putt to stay on that mark after finding the bunker on seven. Gotterup had a similarly up and down start, bogeying the opening hole before picking up birdies at the third and the seventh to keep pace with the Masters champion. Both men picked up further shots at the next hole and parred the ninth to go into the turn on 33 and still locked together. With England's Matt Fitzpatrick closing to within a shot of the leaders with an eagle three at the 10th, both men missed the fairway from the tee as they followed him, but after McIlroy's birdie putt had stayed up, Gotterup sank his to take the lead in his own right as Fitzpatrick went to 13 under, only to drop a shot at the 12th. McIlroy recovered from a wayward drive to make par at the 11th, where Gotterup also made a four after over-hitting his first putt, and it was he who took a significant step forward at the 12th with a birdie two to go two shots clear. The winning moment 📸#GenesisScottishOpen #RolexSeries #FedExCup — Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 13, 2025 The American pushed his tee shot at the next and ended up off the green with his second, but got up and down to save par and preserve his advantage, which remained intact as the players headed for the 15th. A dropped shot on 15 left him just one to the good with three to play, and although he pushed his tee shot into the rough at the par-five 16th, he emerged with a four to McIlroy's five to go back to 15 under, and with two putts to win on 18, he made no mistake. Nicolai Hojgaard, who tied with Fitzpatrick for fourth place, and Matti Schmid also claimed Open spots.
