#TOURBound: Chris Gotterup's rise is defined by power, speed

Each year’s Korn Ferry Tour graduating class features standout talents who generate hype as they emerge from the ranks of amateur, collegiate and professional golf to etch their names on their first PGA TOUR cards.

Chris Gotterup is among the hyped, deservingly so.

With a slew of accolades, an unwavering work ethic and a laid-back demeanor, Gotterup seems destined to make a significant impact on the world of professional golf, and he’ll have the chance to do so in 2024. Gotterup finished No. 23 on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List to earn his first PGA TOUR card. The top 30 on the Points List after the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance earned 2024 PGA TOUR membership.

Gotterup has harnessed powerful talent on the path to becoming a complete player, and he might be just getting started.

“Just an awesome moment,” Gotterup said of clinching his card at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. “God, I’m so happy. This year’s been such an up-and-down year, it’s been so crazy; this is the perfect way to finish it.”

Gotterup's golf journey began at a young age in New Jersey, a state known for its gritty and determined locals. Despite his homeland’s reputation, Gotterup’s father Morten revealed that as a junior golfer Chris was more interested in contemplating his post-round meal at Taco Bell than obsessively grinding over his mechanics at the range. Despite this relaxed approach, Gotterup displayed the traits of a fierce and confident competitor.

Gotterup's longtime instructor Jason Birnbaum vouched for Gotterup’s determination to develop his game in his younger years, despite the occasional lighthearted comment about fast food. Over the past decade, his clubhead speed has soared, reaching heights of 133 mph. He ranked third in driving distance at the TOUR’s 2022 John Deere Classic, averaging a formidable 335.1 yards per tee shot.

This raw power was harnessed and cultivated during his college years. During his time at Rutgers, Gotterup showcased his potential as he was named the 2020 Big Ten Player of the Year and a third-team All-American. After transferring from Rutgers University to the University of Oklahoma for a fifth year of college golf, Gotterup's rise was meteoric.

His single year as a Sooner was marked by a slew of accomplishments. Gotterup won both the Fred Haskins Award and the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top player in college golf. He secured the No. 1 ranking in both the Golfstat and Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, while also nabbing victories at prestigious tournaments like the East Lake Cup and the Puerto Rico Classic. His exceptional runner-up performance at the Big 12 Championship and a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championship showcased his consistent excellence.

“His game is as ready for big-time pro golf as anybody I have been around,” said Oklahoma men’s golf coach Ryan Hybl, who was an All-American and assistant coach at Georgia before making his way to Norman, Oklahoma. “His ball-striking is TOUR-quality, and his driving can be unbeatable at times. More importantly, he is gritty and he believes he is supposed to be there, which is high on the value chart.”

In 2022, Gotterup embarked on his professional career with a bang. He made six cuts in eight TOUR starts, including a T4 at the John Deere Classic, which complemented a T7 in his TOUR debut at the Puerto Rico Open that March, playing on an exemption from his Puerto Rico Classic collegiate win. He also made the cut at the U.S. Open at The Country Club at Brookline, finishing T43, an additional sign that his game was TOUR-caliber.

Gotterup finished No. 7 on the 2022 PGA TOUR University Ranking and notched a T3 at Final Stage of 2022 Q-School to earn guaranteed Korn Ferry Tour starts this season. He took the baton and ran with it, making 21 cuts in 24 starts and recording three top-five finishes. He led the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour in driving distance (324.8 yards) and ranked seventh in greens in regulation, a potent combination for consistency.

Gotterup, 24, ranked No. 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List into the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, his spot inside the top 30 likely but not yet solidified. After rounds of 71-71-74 to begin the week and four birdies against one bogey in his first 16 holes Sunday, Gotterup carded a double-bogey 6 on the par-4 17th hole, falling from projected 22nd to projected 26th and leaving room for doubt. But he bounced back to birdie his final hole of the day – and season – to solidify his position of promotion into the top echelon of the game.

With his unique combination of grit, demeanor, and a powerful game, Gotterup is poised to make a significant impact on the world of professional golf. As a testament to his readiness for big-time pro golf, Chris Gotterup is a name to watch, and his journey is only just beginning.