Breaking: Chris Gotterup sets early pace at WM Phoenix Open as patience tops power
Gotterup grabs control on Day 1
The WM Phoenix Open fired to life today at TPC Scottsdale, and a new name sat on top when the dust settled. Chris Gotterup owns the opening round lead after a calm, measured start that fit the moment. He played smart lines, trusted his yardages, and kept the ball in front of him. While many tried to bully the Stadium Course, Gotterup played chess.
This tournament often rewards swagger. Today it rewarded discipline. Gotterup leaned into a conservative plan, avoiding the big miss and taking his chances where they made sense. He looked comfortable, even as the volume climbed around the turn and into the closing stretch. The lead is his because the mistakes were not.
Round 1 belongs to Chris Gotterup. His patient plan, fairways first and center targets, produced the cleanest card near the top.
Strategy wins on a course built for risk
TPC Scottsdale dares players to bite off more than they can chew. The par 5 15th, with water lingering, punishes greed. The drivable 17th, with trouble left, doubles down. The finish on 18, with water guarding the fairway, demands full commitment. Players can gain three shots in three holes. They can lose three just as fast.
Gotterup did not chase pins he did not need. He took the fat parts of greens and made stress-free pars feel like gold. He pounced when the landing areas felt right, especially on the short par 4s. His round showed how this place rewards patience when the adrenaline is loud.
The stadium effect
Then there is 16, the sport’s noisiest par 3. The enclosed amphitheater shakes every club and every nerve. Birdies get roars. Missed greens get a chorus. The smartest players breathe, pick a number, and swing. Gotterup treated it like any other shot, which is the secret here, even with 20,000 voices pushing at your back. 🏟️
At the Stadium Course, restraint travels. Score with your feet on the ground. Attack only when the window is wide enough.
World No. 1 stumbles, chase pack tightens
The world’s top ranked player did not find a groove. Loose tee balls crept into the desert. Wedge approaches leaked into defensive putts. A cold stretch with the putter cost makeable chances. Nothing was catastrophic, but nothing felt sharp either. In Scottsdale, that adds up fast.
This stumble changes the early story. It pulls more players into the chase and it elevates the value of a steady plan. A slow start does not end a week at this event. The Stadium Course gives back if you let it. But pressure builds here, and the noise only grows as the weekend arrives.
Why Gotterup’s profile fits this fight
Gotterup brings the power modern golf demands, but his college pedigree taught him patience. He has learned how to win, and how to travel with a game plan that scales. On a course that tempts big swings, his balanced approach pays.
He showed three habits that matter in Scottsdale:
- Commit to club choices, especially on the short 4s.
- Favor the correct side of fairways, not just distance.
- Miss in the right spots, then trust the putter.
- Let the par 5s come to you, do not force eagles.
This is not cautious golf. It is controlled aggression. When the greens firm up and the wind flickers across the desert, that control keeps the round alive. It also frees the putter. Confident roll after smart target. That wins anywhere, especially here.
What to watch on Friday
Round 2 will test the same split between nerve and nuance. If the greens speed up, front pins get trickier. If the wind rises across the back nine, tee shots on 17 and 18 get tense. Expect more movement in the middle of the board as players lean into the drivable holes.
Moving day talk can wait, but Friday should frame the chase. If Gotterup keeps winning the discipline battle, he forces everyone else to play his game. If the world No. 1 flips the script, the weekend turns into a heavyweight show inside a desert stadium.
The WM Phoenix Open is always part tournament, part theater. The stands chant, the music buzzes, and the roars spill down the fairways. Tonight, the stage belongs to a player who chose patience over noise. If that holds, it might carry him all the way through Sunday.
Conclusion
Round 1 sent a clear message. At TPC Scottsdale, patience beats swagger when the margins tighten. Chris Gotterup made the smart play the winning play. The field has time to respond, and the cauldron at 16 will not relax. But the early blueprint is set. Keep the ball in play, hit the big targets, and cash the right putts. That is how you take the keys to the most raucous week in golf.
