Chris Gotterup has insisted that he holds no resentment over the decision to not pick him for last year’s Ryder Cup following his third victory of the PGA Tour season at the John Deere Classic.
Gotterup produced a stunning Sunday round to win at TPC Deere Run this past week. The 26-year-old began the last day in Illinois five shots adrift of the lead.
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However, nine birdies helped Gotterup post a round of 62 to take the clubhouse lead. When neither Max Homa or Ben Kohles were able to do what they needed on the 72nd hole, it was confirmed that Gotterup had won.
Of course, he previously emerged victorious at both the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open.
Chris Gotterup reflects on missing out on making the 2025 Ryder Cup team
This latest result almost certainly secures Chris Gotterup‘s spot on Brandt Snedeker’s Presidents Cup team for Medinah in September.
Obviously, the next event on the calendar is a significant one in Gotterup’s career. His win at the Scottish Open 12 months ago launched him to another level, particularly as he edged out Rory McIlroy at The Renaissance Club.
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He also shone at The Open Championship the following week. Nevertheless, he did not manage to do enough to convince Keegan Bradley to pick him for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
Photo by Tyler Clouse/Getty Images
With the benefit of hindsight, that decision looks to have been a mistake. However, speaking after his win at the John Deere Classic, Gotterup – who played alongside the captain over the first two days – insisted that he remains at peace with Bradley overlooking him.
“It definitely wasn’t like an I got screwed, why is this happening to me moment. It was more of, all right, this was a great learning process,” he said.
“I certainly didn’t have a year like this last year, until the last five or six tournaments I started playing really well. It definitely was something that motivated me to play well this year.
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“I talked to Keegan a bunch and still do. He was saying, ‘just go out there and prove it and earn it’. I felt like I did a good job of that today.
“Yeah, it was a good moment more than a bad moment not making the team. It would have been a home run if I did, but it was still a great process of learning and being under the gun of Ryder Cup pressure. Obviously not playing in it, but all right, your name is in the mix, you have to go play well. It’s hard to do, and I feel like I’ve done a much better job of that this year.”
Where Chris Gotterup ranks in the qualification standings for the Presidents Cup after his John Deere Classic win
Gotterup has moved up to eighth in the Presidents Cup standings following his latest victory. US Open champion Wyndham Clark is one of the players he has overtaken.
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So he technically still has work to do before he can definitely pack his bags to return to Illinois. However, there is surely no chance now of Brandt Snedeker snubbing Gotterup.
No one has won more often on the PGA Tour this season. And it should not be a huge surprise if Sunday does not prove to be the final time this year that Gotterup puts himself in contention.
His stock is rising at a rapid rate. Gotterup clearly has the game to go on and win one of the sport’s biggest prizes in the coming years.
Certainly, the phone call is going to be considerably tougher this time around should Snedeker somehow decide to leave him out.
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