Chris Gotterup won the 2026 WM Phoenix Open in a playoff over Hideki Matsuyama, securing his fourth PGA Tour title. Michael Thorbjornsen nearly claimed his first victory, leading late before finishing tied for third. Both young golfers attributed their performances to preparation from the tech-infused TGL league.
At the 2026 WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, Chris Gotterup and Michael Thorbjornsen delivered impressive performances, crediting the virtual golf league TGL for building their resilience under pressure.
Gotterup, a reserve for Justin Thomas's Atlanta Drive in TGL, opened the tournament at TPC Scottsdale with a 63 and clinched victory in a sudden-death playoff against Hideki Matsuyama, marking his fourth PGA Tour win and second of the season. He had competed in a TGL match the previous Monday, which he said fueled his determination. "We were flying back from TGL and I was like, 'I need to see Saturday here this week,'" Gotterup recounted, emphasizing how the league's adrenaline helped his game during the offseason.
Thorbjornsen, a substitute for Rory McIlroy's Boston Common squad, shot 66-71-65 over the first three rounds and seized a solo lead with three holes remaining on Sunday. His standout moment came on the par-5 15th, where a 366-yard drive set up an eagle putt, giving him a one-shot edge over Matsuyama. However, back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th—his tee shot flying the green on the raucous par-3 16th and finding water on the 17th—dropped him to a tie for third alongside Scottie Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim, and Nicolai Hojgaard.
Despite the heartbreak, the 24-year-old Thorbjornsen remained positive. "I don't think I failed out there. I'm just learning," he told reporters. "I put myself in that position. I was leading after what, 70 holes... We're inching our way closer and closer. It'll happen at some point." On the 16th mishap, he speculated, "Probably hit the wrong club or hit it too hard or adrenaline." Golf fans praised his mindset on social media, with one saying, "Great head on his shoulders. The wins are coming."
Thorbjornsen also highlighted TGL's role: "I feel like TGL has definitely helped me focus when the crowd is loud... I know I can make putts on Astroturf or grass." The event, known for its massive crowds, tested the duo's mettle, and TGL's simulated pressures appear to have paid off. Thorbjornsen next competes in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
