Latest news with #MyrtleBeachClassic
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘A great week' – Rory McIlroy upbeat about Scottish Open performance despite coming second to Chris Gotterup
RORY McILROY will be wishing that Chris Gotterup stuck to lacrosse as the American wrecked his hopes of winning a second Scottish Open. After seeing former shinty star Robert MacIntyre succeed him as champion a year ago, McIlroy must think these minority sports players have got it in for him. Advertisement 2 McIlroy's overall performance bodes well for his chances at Royal Portrush this week Credit: Alamy 2 Little-known Gotterup held his nerve down the back nine Credit: Alamy Gotterup, 25, was viewed as one of the top lacrosse prospects in the USA before concentrating on golf. And the first sign the world No 158 made the right choice was when he won his first PGA Tour title at the Myrtle Beach Classic last year. But going up against world No 2 McIlroy during the final round at the Renaissance Club — and shooting a four-under-par 66 to beat his playing partner by two shots — was a big leap forward. Gotterup told Sky Sports: 'It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport '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 on the first tee today and I felt comfortable. 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 Rory and all the support he gets is amazing. 'But it was nice to kind of ruin that a little bit.' Advertisement Most read in Golf McIlroy was keen to repeat his 2023 victory in Scotland and head to Portrush for this week's Open Championship in fine form. But after starting on the same 11-under-par mark as Gotterup — two shots clear of the rest — the five-time Major champion could never quite find his A game. Scottie Scheffler channels inner Happy Gilmore and SCREAMS at ball just days before The Open He ground out a closing 68 and was forced to settle for a share of second on 13 under with England's Marco Penge, who matched Gotterup's 66. Dubliner Pádraig Harrington, 53, shot a two-over round to finish on three under in a tie for 71st. Advertisement But it was Gotterup's day as he walked away with a cheque for £1.2million and a place at The Open. It was a testament to McIlroy's Houdini-like ability to escape from scary situations that he was still snapping at Gotterup's heels at the business end of the round. RORY REACTION The Holywood star produced a superb up and down to save par at the seventh hole, where he found a bunker off the tee and could only splash his ball out sideways. He was still over 200 yards away from the flag with his third. But he crunched it to 20 feet and putted in for an improbable four. Advertisement His par save at the 11th was even more dramatic. McIlroy's tee shot finished behind a tree and he had to turn a lofted club upside down to hack his ball back on to the fairway. This time the magic number was 151 yards and when his ball stopped nine feet from the flag the roars suggested the sell-out crowds expected another par. And they were right. But that putter was not proving quite so reliable when McIlroy was putting for birdie and Gotterup proved a worthy winner. The Masters champion was not dwelling on his mistakes, though. McIlroy said: 'It has been a great week. I've got what I wanted out of it.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Leona Maguire came seventh at the Evian Championship in France. The Cavan golfer, 30, was three shots off leaders Grace Kim and Jeeno Thitikul on 11 under. Kim won the play-off.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Chris Gotterup outlasts Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open
Gotterup was so emotional when it was over he could barely speak, rubbing his eyes before saying, 'Everyone at home ... this is awesome. I'm not going to be able to keep it together.' He didn't blink the rest of the way on the course after his final birdie, winning by two over McIlroy (68) and Penge (66) for his second PGA Tour title. Advertisement 'Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,' McIlroy said. 'Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. After he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back.' Gotterup, built more like fellow New Jersey athlete Mike Trout than a golfer, also won the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic last year. The Genesis Scottish Open had one of the strongest fields of the year, and the perks are far greater. Gotterup, who played three years at Rutgers and won player-of-the-year awards as a senior at Oklahoma, gets into the Masters for the first time next April. Advertisement The first stop is the British Open at Royal Portrush. Gotterup earned one of the three final spots through the International Qualifying Series, joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid. Hojgaard closed with a 64 to move up 11 spots into a tie for fourth to join his twin brother at Royal Portrush. Schmid shot 71 and tied for 17th, helped by Jake Knapp's late collapse. Knapp was tied for the lead through five holes, but he took double bogey on the par-3 ninth and the rest of the back nine didn't go much better. He closed with a 74, losing on a chance to win and to play next week at Royal Portrush. McIlroy had said he was playing his best golf since going into the Masters, which But he couldn't keep up with Gotterup, who looked shaky at the start when he drove into a bunker and had to make a 4-foot bogey putt. He was rock solid the rest of the way. '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,' McIlroy said. 'It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.' McIlroy battled to the end, especially on No. 11 when he had to pitch out left-handed and still managed to save par. When it was over, he said he was on his way to Royal Portrush, which McIlroy had not seen since the Friday of the 2019 British Open when he missed the cut. Advertisement Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a 67 and tied for fourth with Hojgaard, picking up valuable FedEx Cup points in what has been a down year. Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 and tied for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Chris Gotterup outlasts Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and head to Portrush
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Chris Gotterup came up with the clutch shots on the biggest stage he has faced Sunday, taking down crowd favorite Rory McIlroy with a 4-under 66 and a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open that gives him another week of links golf. Gotterup was one shot ahead of McIlroy when he hit his tee shot on the 196-yard 12th hole to 2 feet for birdie — McIlroy missed from 4 feet — to take command. Gotterup's lead was down to one over McIlroy and England's Marco Penge, but McIlroy missed a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 16th and Gotterup hit a right-to-left putt from 10 feet in the heart of the cup for a two-shot lead with two to play. Gotterup was so emotional when it was over he could barely speak, rubbing his eyes before saying, 'Everyone at home ... this is awesome. I'm not going to be able to keep it together.' He didn't blink the rest of the way on the course after his final birdie, winning by two over McIlroy (68) and Penge (66) for his second PGA Tour title. 'Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,' McIlroy said. 'Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. After he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back.' Gotterup, built more like fellow New Jersey athlete Mike Trout than a golfer, also won the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic last year. The Genesis Scottish Open had one of the strongest fields of the year, and the perks are far greater. Gotterup, who played three years at Rutgers and won player-of-the-year awards as a senior at Oklahoma, gets into the Masters for the first time next April. The first stop is the British Open at Royal Portrush. Gotterup earned one of the three final spots through the International Qualifying Series, joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid. Hojgaard closed with a 64 to move up 11 spots into a tie for fourth to join his twin brother at Royal Portrush. Schmid shot 71 and tied for 17th, helped by Jake Knapp's late collapse. Knapp was tied for the lead through five holes, but he took double bogey on the par-3 ninth and the rest of the back nine didn't go much better. He closed with a 74, losing on a chance to win and to play next week at Royal Portrush. Good timing for McIlroy McIlroy had said he was playing his best golf since going into the Masters, which he won in emotional fashion to complete the career Grand Slam. This was the first time he had seriously contended since that Masters victory, good timing with the Open in his native Northern Ireland starting on Thursday. But he couldn't keep up with Gotterup, who looked shaky at the start when he drove into a bunker and had to make a 4-foot bogey putt. He was rock solid the rest of the way. '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,' McIlroy said. 'It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.' McIlroy battled to the end, especially on No. 11 when he had to pitch out left-handed and still managed to save par. When it was over, he said he was on his way to Royal Portrush, which McIlroy had not seen since the Friday of the 2019 British Open when he missed the cut. Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a 67 and tied for fourth with Hojgaard, picking up valuable FedEx Cup points in what has been a down year. Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 and tied for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open. ___
2 days ago
- Sport
Chris Gotterup outlasts Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and head to Portrush
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland -- Chris Gotterup came up with the clutch shots on the biggest stage he has faced Sunday, taking down crowd favorite Rory McIlroy with a 4-under 66 and a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open that gives him another week of links golf. Gotterup was one shot ahead of McIlroy when he hit his tee shot on the 196-yard 12th hole to 2 feet for birdie — McIlroy missed from 4 feet — to take command. Gotterup's lead was down to one over McIlroy and England's Marco Penge, but McIlroy missed a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 16th and Gotterup hit a right-to-left putt from 10 feet in the heart of the cup for a two-shot lead with two to play. Gotterup was so emotional when it was over he could barely speak, rubbing his eyes before saying, 'Everyone at home ... this is awesome. I'm not going to be able to keep it together.' He didn't blink the rest of the way on the course after his final birdie, winning by two over McIlroy (68) and Penge (66) for his second PGA Tour title. 'Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,' McIlroy said. 'Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. After he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back.' Gotterup, built more like fellow New Jersey athlete Mike Trout than a golfer, also won the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic last year. The Genesis Scottish Open had one of the strongest fields of the year, and the perks are far greater. Gotterup, who played three years at Rutgers and won player-of-the-year awards as a senior at Oklahoma, gets into the Masters for the first time next April. The first stop is the British Open at Royal Portrush. Gotterup earned one of the three final spots through the International Qualifying Series, joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid. Hojgaard closed with a 64 to move up 11 spots into a tie for fourth to join his twin brother at Royal Portrush. Schmid shot 71 and tied for 17th, helped by Jake Knapp's late collapse. Knapp was tied for the lead through five holes, but he took double bogey on the par-3 ninth and the rest of the back nine didn't go much better. He closed with a 74, losing on a chance to win and to play next week at Royal Portrush. McIlroy had said he was playing his best golf since going into the Masters, which he won in emotional fashion to complete the career Grand Slam. This was the first time he had seriously contended since that Masters victory, good timing with the Open in his native Northern Ireland starting on Thursday. But he couldn't keep up with Gotterup, who looked shaky at the start when he drove into a bunker and had to make a 4-foot bogey putt. He was rock solid the rest of the way. '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,' McIlroy said. 'It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.' McIlroy battled to the end, especially on No. 11 when he had to pitch out left-handed and still managed to save par. When it was over, he said he was on his way to Royal Portrush, which McIlroy had not seen since the Friday of the 2019 British Open when he missed the cut. Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a 67 and tied for fourth with Hojgaard, picking up valuable FedEx Cup points in what has been a down year. Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 and tied for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Chris Gotterup outlasts Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and head to Portrush
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Chris Gotterup came up with the clutch shots on the biggest stage he has faced Sunday, taking down crowd favorite Rory McIlroy with a 4-under 66 and a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open that gives him another week of links golf. Gotterup was one shot ahead of McIlroy when he hit his tee shot on the 196-yard 12th hole to 2 feet for birdie — McIlroy missed from 4 feet — to take command. Gotterup's lead was down to one over McIlroy and England's Marco Penge, but McIlroy missed a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 16th and Gotterup hit a right-to-left putt from 10 feet in the heart of the cup for a two-shot lead with two to play. Gotterup was so emotional when it was over he could barely speak, rubbing his eyes before saying, 'Everyone at home ... this is awesome. I'm not going to be able to keep it together.' He didn't blink the rest of the way on the course after his final birdie, winning by two over McIlroy (68) and Penge (66) for his second PGA Tour title. 'Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,' McIlroy said. 'Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. After he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back.' Gotterup, built more like fellow New Jersey athlete Mike Trout than a golfer, also won the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic last year. Next stop is the British Open The Genesis Scottish Open had one of the strongest fields of the year, and the perks are far greater. Gotterup, who played three years at Rutgers and won player-of-the-year awards as a senior at Oklahoma, gets into the Masters for the first time next April. The first stop is the British Open at Royal Portrush. Gotterup earned one of the three final spots through the International Qualifying Series, joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid. Hojgaard closed with a 64 to move up 11 spots into a tie for fourth to join his twin brother at Royal Portrush. Schmid shot 71 and tied for 17th, helped by Jake Knapp's late collapse. Knapp was tied for the lead through five holes, but he took double bogey on the par-3 ninth and the rest of the back nine didn't go much better. He closed with a 74, losing on a chance to win and to play next week at Royal Portrush. Good timing for McIlroy McIlroy had said he was playing his best golf since going into the Masters, which he won in emotional fashion to complete the career Grand Slam . This was the first time he had seriously contended since that Masters victory, good timing with the Open in his native Northern Ireland starting on Thursday. But he couldn't keep up with Gotterup, who looked shaky at the start when he drove into a bunker and had to make a 4-foot bogey putt. He was rock solid the rest of the way. '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,' McIlroy said. 'It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.' McIlroy battled to the end, especially on No. 11 when he had to pitch out left-handed and still managed to save par. When it was over, he said he was on his way to Royal Portrush, which McIlroy had not seen since the Friday of the 2019 British Open when he missed the cut. Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a 67 and tied for fourth with Hojgaard, picking up valuable FedEx Cup points in what has been a down year. Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 and tied for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open. ___ AP golf:
