Chris Gotterup’s journey to victory at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic was nothing short of remarkable. The young golfer began his day with a leisurely stroll along the beach and ended it with a triumphant walk in the park, securing his first PGA Tour victory.
Gotterup had been leading the tournament since Friday, and he knew that the win was within his grasp. He played commandingly throughout the tournament, finishing at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club with a six-stroke lead and a score of 22-under-par on May 12. His impressive performance earned him $720,000 of the $4 million purse, 300 FedExCup points, and PGA Tour status through 2026. Additionally, he qualified for this week’s PGA Championship.
Despite starting his final round with bogeys on the first two holes, Gotterup quickly regained his composure with birdie putts on the 3rd and 5th holes and an eagle on the 4th hole. An early alarm mishap prompted a relaxed beach walk before his round, which seemed to help calm his nerves during the tournament.
In a post-win interview, Gotterup expressed relief at not having to worry about maintaining his Tour card for the next two years. He acknowledged the rollercoaster nature of his final round but noted that he was not expecting things to go as smoothly as they did. Despite some initial hiccups, Gotterup managed to stay composed and deliver an impressive performance to clinch his first PGA Tour win.
