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Rutgers Golf great Chris Gotterup PGA Thread

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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
As was pointed out, Chris has been treading water since February. It seems as tho he has a very good round here and there but isn'anything near consistent

Chris has 2 issues he needs to clean up. First is he can be sailing along then his Driver deserts him, scattershooting in places you don't often see. I call it a case of the Wilds.

The second is approach to the Greens. Watching a preview tonight, these Greens are so tough that even a good putter like Chris, making long putts or chips aren't going to happen very often. He needs to figure out a way to use his lower than average ball flight to hit and hold greens and give him some Birdie chances.

Of course I'm talking about a 26 year old with 4 Tour titles already. What do I know?
 
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richthedentist

All-American
Aug 2, 2001
11,108
8,698
113
knightfan7 said:
As was pointed out, Chris has been treading water since February. It seems as tho he has a very good round here and there but isn'anything near consistent

Chris has 2 issues he needs to clean up. First is he can be sailing along then his Driver deserts him, scattershooting in places you don't often see. I call it a case of the Wilds.

The second is approach to the Greens. Watching a preview tonight, these Greens are so tough that even a good putter like Chris, making long putts or chips aren't going to happen very often. He needs to figure out a way to use his lower than average ball flight to hit and hold greens and give him some Birdie chances.

Of course I'm talking about a 26 year old with 4 Tour titles already. What do I know?
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I agree on both fronts but as you say what do we know!! This course is going to be tough for all the pros but like you say I think driving accuracy is the key here I am really looking forward to this tournament because to me there is nothing more fun than watching the best players trying to make par and seeing bogeys and double bogeys for us is fun knowing they can do what we do all the time
 
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silentwillie

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2004
1,030
1,504
113
Anyone heading to Aronimink for the PGA? I’ll be there Saturday wearing my block R hat. Hopefully Chris will start strong and be there as well.
 
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Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,552
27,049
88
He's been in PARgatory since his win in Phoenix. The two biggest things holding him back from top 10 finishes recently have been errant drives that make his second shots very challenging, but more importantly, his fairway irons and approach shots just haven't been very good. He rarely drops his second shots within 10 feet of the pin, and he's been leaving himself with birdie putts of 20-60 feet, so most often he ends up with pars.

I worry about the greens at Aronimink having a lot of slope, such that his low trajectory iron shots won't stick where he wants them.
 
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AreYouNUTS

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
124,128
58,139
113
knightfan7 said:
As was pointed out, Chris has been treading water since February. It seems as tho he has a very good round here and there but isn'anything near consistent

Chris has 2 issues he needs to clean up. First is he can be sailing along then his Driver deserts him, scattershooting in places you don't often see. I call it a case of the Wilds.

The second is approach to the Greens. Watching a preview tonight, these Greens are so tough that even a good putter like Chris, making long putts or chips aren't going to happen very often. He needs to figure out a way to use his lower than average ball flight to hit and hold greens and give him some Birdie chances.

Of course I'm talking about a 26 year old with 4 Tour titles already. What do I know?
Click to expand...
Now THAT was a good line!!!
 
K

knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
3rd Hole

359 yd Drive!!! - middle of the fairway 90 yds from the pin

2nd comes up 20 yds short in Trap

sand shot and 2 putts for a Bogey so took 4 shots from 90 yards.

1 Over after 3
 
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Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,552
27,049
88
Degaz-RU said:
He's been in PARgatory since his win in Phoenix. The two biggest things holding him back from top 10 finishes recently have been errant drives that make his second shots very challenging, but more importantly, his fairway irons and approach shots just haven't been very good. He rarely drops his second shots within 10 feet of the pin, and he's been leaving himself with birdie putts of 20-60 feet, so most often he ends up with pars.

I worry about the greens at Aronimink having a lot of slope, such that his low trajectory iron shots won't stick where he wants them.
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These two issues are playing out to a T thus far. He's only hit 2 out of 5 fairways, and the ones he missed ended up in thick rough and made his second shots difficult. In the one time he hit a fairway, he had a 90 yard wedge to approach and hit it short and ended up in a greenside sand trap, and ended up bogeying that hole.

+2 through 5, though he just hit a nice drive on 6 -- let's see what he does with a 47-yard approach shot.
 
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Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,552
27,049
88
Finishes the round at +2, which is tied for 71st in a field of 155 golfers. The leaders are currently at -3, but this is a REALLY difficult course, so it will be hard to make up strokes moving forward. He will need to play better tomorrow morning in order to make the cut.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
2nd in Driving Distance - 355 yards

108th in Driving Accuracy - 50%

150th in Feet of Putts Made.

The last stat is somewhat misleading. When you're first putt is from 30, 40, 50 or more feet, that stat will always be bad.

18 was his round (and the last 3 months) in a nutshell. Drive in the Fairway, 172 yards to the Pin. Hits his 2nd 202 yards over the Green into the high rough in back. Chip to 10' and 2 Putts for a Bogey.
 
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DHajekRC1984

Senior
Jul 20, 2025
1,080
966
113
I'm the last guy that should comment about this but he seems to have put on some weight....wonder if that has had any effect ...hip turns, etc. His putting doesn't seem as good lately either. Anywho I wish him THE BEST!
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Ummmmmm, starting on the Back 9, Chris is currently on 18. He's -2 for his round sinking putts of 21 and 23 feet but that's just part of it. He hit his drive on 15 391 Yards!
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Missed a 3' Par putt on 2 but recovered with his 3rd 20'+ Birdie on 3. Back to -2 and Even for the championship as he plays his 15th Hole.
 
K

knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
On his 16th hole he put his 100yd approach to 2' from the cup for a Birdie and 1 Under.

On the next hole, a 173yd Par 3, he continues leaving his tee shot 4.5 feet from the cup. Birdie #5 on the round and 2 Under for the championship.

On the Par5 18th he missed the fairway and had to play his 2nd short of the green. He pitched to 7' and made the putt for his 3rd Birdie in a row. 5 Under for the day and 3 under for the Championship.

Most are still on the course but for the moment he's tied for 2nd!
 
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Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,552
27,049
88
Let's freaking go Chris!! He will be on the first page of the leaderboard for Saturday's round, no doubt.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Chris Gotterup went on a tear today after a 2 Over yesterday where he, like most, had trouble getting close to the Pin or hitting Fairways.

Today he shot 5 Under 65, the low round at the time. He moved up 64 places, currently Tied for 3rd with many still on the course. Alex Smalley (-4) is the leader in the clubhouse. Matsuyama is tied with Chris in the clubhouse. 1 stroke back are a group that includes Scottie Scheffler, Cam Young, and Justin Thomas.

Srtarting his day on the Back 9, all totaled he had 6 Birdies. The first 3 were by putts of 20' or more. He then Birdied 16 with an approach to 2' of the cup. Next a tee shot on his 17th hole within 5 feet, and finally on his 18th a 7 footer for Birdie to finish a string of 3 in a row.

His only blemish was missing a 3+' Par putt.

He also had a 391 yard drive and leads the field as does his 2 round average of 356 yards.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Chris finishes today tied for 3rd with Matsuyama and Potgieter, 1 stroke behind McNealy and Smalley.

He should be paired with Matsuyama in the next to last group in tomorrow's 3rd round.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
The 2 short Par 4's, the 6th and 13th, should be interesting. The Pin on 6 isn't worth going for the Green as the Pin is tucked into a corner right behind a trap but if you can cut off enough of the dogleg, you can leave yourself a 60-75 or so yard 2nd. The 299 yd 13th is straight away with the Pin center back. Everyone in the field can reach the Green in one. The brave will go for the Pin as there little room behind it.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Someone already shot 63 this morning. A bunch on the course already 3 and one 4 Under so may be low score out there.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Finished +2 after 16 Pars and 2 Bogeys. Currently T54.

Same issues. Only hit 5 of 14 fairways. Average Approach shot left him very little chance for Birdies.
 
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Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,552
27,049
88
Caliknight said:
Should consider throttling back the driver trading distance for accuracy. His iron play isn't good enough to not be in fairways.
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This.

The Memorial course has tons of fairway bunkers and thick rough. CG needs to hit fairways if he wants to do well here.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Degaz-RU said:
This.

The Memorial course has tons of fairway bunkers and thick rough. CG needs to hit fairways if he wants to do well here.
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As I posted on the RT, he's 109th in proximity to hole on approaches less that 100 yds and 114th overall.

Now a large % are because he;a not playing from the Fairway but there's also the issue he just doesn't hit his irons as well as others.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,303
70,091
113
Tango Two said:
Any update
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It was a tale of two 9's.

After 9 holes he was 5 Under for the round with Birdies on 1 and 4 in a row on 6-9. He played the Back 9 3 Over with 1 Birdie and 4 Bogeys.

As was posted above, -2 for Day and E for the tourney.

Last I checked he is not entered in this week's Canadian Open so his next event will be the US Open.
 
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Tango Two

Tango Two

Heisman
Aug 21, 2001
58,873
37,708
78
Next up @ US Open

Shinnecock Hill Golf Club in Southampton, Long Island,

June 18 - 21
 
Tango Two

Tango Two

Heisman
Aug 21, 2001
58,873
37,708
78

2026 U.S. Open tee times for first round Thursday​



  • 7:30 a.m. — Brooks Koepka; Cameron Young; Chris Gotterup
 
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