Chris Gotterup fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 to take a two-shot lead in the first round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler struggled to a 2-over 73, marked by frustrating chip shots that rolled back to his feet. England's Matt Fitzpatrick shot 65 to sit in second place.
The WM Phoenix Open kicked off Thursday at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course in Scottsdale, Arizona, with warm desert weather contributing to low scores. Chris Gotterup, playing in the same group as Scheffler, started strong with a 27-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th hole. He added birdies on the stadium par-3 16th and 18th to turn in 6-under 30, then two-putted for birdie on the par-5 third and sank a 26-footer on the par-3 seventh for his career-low 63 on Tour.
"I feel like I’m doing things well and thinking through things well," Gotterup said. The 26-year-old, who won the Sony Open in January, missed the cut in his two prior Phoenix appearances but dominated this time, beating Scheffler by 10 strokes—the first time a playing partner has outshot him by that margin since 2021.
Scheffler, fresh off a win at The American Express, arrived with 33 straight sub-par rounds and a 65-cut streak. But his day unraveled with pulled drives and poor chipping. On the par-4 18th, his chip rolled back to his feet, prompting visible frustration as he banged his wedge on his thighs. A similar mishap on the eighth led to bogey, ending his par-or-better streak. He finished with five birdies, five bogeys, and a double bogey, his worst round in strokes gained since the 2023 Tour Championship.
Scheffler skipped media afterward, heading to the range. "Uncharacteristic," observers noted of the four-time Player of the Year. Matt Fitzpatrick matched the back-nine record with a 29, shooting 65 despite two closing bogeys. "If someone would’ve said here is 6 under to start day and I can stay in bed, I would’ve snatched your hand off," he said.
Brooks Koepka, in his second Tour start post-LIV, shot 75. Fifty-six players sit at 1-under or better after a day of long drives and low numbers. Round two features Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Gotterup at 2:55 p.m. ET.
