Chris Gotterup won the Scottish Open last weekend and is currently inside the top 10 at the 36-hole mark in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. It's quite the stretch of golf, and life. And yet,

He won the Scottish Open seven days ago, a life-altering victory that earned him a spot in the British Open field this week at Portrush.

Chris Gotterup had a plane ticket for California to play an opposite-field event in Lake Tahoe. The only change in itinerary would be to take down Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a sellout crowd expecting the Masters champion to claim his 30th title on the PGA Tour.

It was unexpected, and not just because of the formidable names breathing down his neck. Gotterup had been playing well heading into Scotland, posting seven top-25 finishes in his last 11 starts (including the U.S. Open), but he had virtually no links reps and the game over here is notoriously unkind to the inexperienced.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — It was shortly after 2 in the afternoon Tuesday at Royal Portrush when Chris Gotterup emerged from a walkway and appeared at the first tee.

Royal Portrush Golf Club is home to a beautiful links-style layout for players to contend with this week, but its unique design is presenting quite a challenge

After outdueling Masters champion Rory McIlroy head-to-head to win for the second time on the PGA Tour and earning his first berth in the forthcoming British Open at Royal Portrush, Chris Gotterup struggled for what seemed like the first time all day. Winning the Genesis Scottish Open was quite the challenge. Talking about it was even more so.

Gotterup enters the third round on Saturday tied for fifth at 5-under par. Coming off the Scottish Open win last week, which got Gotterup in The Open field, he said, "Coming off last week, I know where my game is at.

Golf's oldest championship returns to Royal Portrush. It's the third time the British Open has gone to the Northern Ireland links. Shane Lowry won in 2019.

Chris Gotterup won the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open, securing his biggest career victory and a spot in the Open Championship. Gotterup, ranked 158th in the world before the tournament, held off a competitive field including Rory McIlroy to win by two strokes.