[Winner's Club] Gotterup: "New Golf Ball Saved in My Heart"

WM Phoenix Open Comeback Victory, Powered by a Special Helper
Gaming the Bridgestone Tour B X Even Before Its Official Release
Overwhelming Distance and Exceptional Spin From Difficult Lies
Flawless Performance on the 18th in the Final Round and the First Playoff Hole

Chris Gotterup (USA) kept an open mind about new equipment, and it paid off handsomely.

On February 8 (local time), Gotterup came from behind to win the PGA Tour WM Phoenix Open (total purse 9.6 million dollars) at TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course (par 71, 7261 yards) in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. He fired a final-round 7-under 64 to tie with Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) at 16-under 268, then captured the title with a birdie on the first playoff hole at the par-4 18th.

Gotterup Chris, using a pre-release Bridgestone golf ball, became the first player this year to record two wins. AP Yonhap News

Following his victory at last month’s PGA Tour season opener, the Sony Open, Gotterup has now collected his second win of the season and the fourth of his career. The winner’s check is 1.728 million dollars (about 2.5 billion won). With this victory, his world ranking jumped from No. 16 last week all the way up to No. 5.

In the final round, Gotterup felt the full power of his new golf ball. He put Bridgestone’s Tour B X Mindset into his caddie bag. Having used it since the pre-release Sony Open, he became the only two-time champion on the PGA Tour this season. Bridgestone’s Tour B X Mindset is a performance line ball that delivers overwhelming distance and outstanding spin.

On the 18th hole of the fourth round, Gotterup pushed his tee shot right into the rough, but produced a powerful wedge shot to make birdie. Matsuyama dropped a shot on the same hole, giving Gotterup a chance at a playoff. In the first extra hole, he again hit a decisive shot close to the pin to seal the win.

Chris Gotterup lifts the trophy and smiles brightly immediately after winning in a playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Scottsdale (USA) = AP Yonhap News

Over the course of the tournament, he experienced both length and precision. He averaged 332.20 yards off the tee (4th), hit 72.22% of greens in regulation (tied for 21st), and averaged 1.73 putts per hole (21st).

<Clubs Used in WM Phoenix Open Victory>

Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)

Mini Driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (18 degrees)

Irons: Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (#4-9)

Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset

*Source: GolfWRX