Chris Gotterup's meteoric rise has made him one of golf's hottest players, climbing to No. 5 in the world rankings after winning the Phoenix Open in a playoff against Hideki Matsuyama. The 26-year-old New Jersey native will compete this week at Pebble Beach as a favorite in the 80-man pro field, marking his first appearance since his ranking was 206th last year.

Gotterup's journey from a 13-year-old breaking par at Rumson Country Club to a top-five golfer has been remarkable. His four victories in the past four seasons trail only Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy on tour. After winning the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii, Gotterup has demonstrated remarkable consistency, ranking second in strokes gained: total and fifth in driving distance with a 327.9-yard average.

His breakthrough came after struggling with missed cuts in 2024, but Gotterup credits improved consistency for his turnaround. The former Oklahoma standout, who was a consensus All-American and won both the Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus awards in college, will make his Masters debut in April. His first trip to Augusta National will be as a competitor, not a spectator, fulfilling a goal he set years ago.