THE 153RD OPEN

July 20, 2025

Chris Gotterup

Mixed Zone

Q. How would you describe the day?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Really great. I really did everything well, and I was really proud of how I started. I felt like I had a good head on my shoulders all day and really was trying to focus on being present in my round.

Q. I don't know how much scoreboard watching you do, but there was a little stretch where Scottie doubled, you birdied, now it's a little tighter. What was going through your mind there?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I saw it briefly, and then I followed it up with a bogey. So that ended pretty quickly. I really wasn't too worried about it. Like I said yesterday, I knew Scottie was going to go out there and put a good round together. I was just proud of how I fought out there.

Q. After a week like last week, were you expecting to come out here and do something like this?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I don't know about that. I expected to play well, but I don't think I expected quite this well. I don't know what's going on over here, but maybe my European blood in me a little bit has come to life.

Q. There's definitely a possibility now that you could be in the Ryder Cup conversation as someone with a connection to Rutgers, Bethpage Black, how does that make you feel?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I guess good. I haven't thought about it at all. I mean, it really wasn't ever on my radar. I obviously hoped to play well, and it would be a miracle. Now I mean, I have no idea. Northeast is my home, and we'll see what happens.

Q. How's your Danish?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Not good. My dad's got good Danish. I've got zero. I've been to Denmark, though, I can say that.

Q. So I can't interview you in Danish?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: No. My dad will have to translate.

Q. What is your relationship like there?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: My dad's mom and dad were born there. They had a house there forever. They got rid of it a couple years ago, but we would go over there once or twice. They spoke Danish in my dad's house. That's about all I got. I don't have much other than that.

It's cool when you have the Hojgaards and those guys, and like my last name has the slash through it, so they notice that. It's just kind of funny to talk to them a little bit about it.

Q. What do you think about Denmark?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I loved it. I haven't been in the last eight, ten years. I'd like to go back now that I'm somewhat older and experience it for what it is. We went to Tivoli, and then we went to Copenhagen too. It's a great place.

Q. Who would you root for in the Ryder Cup?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: USA.

Q. In front of the Irish fans, how was that reception?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: It was amazing. I was saying all week I felt like here they have a really good understanding of what's going on and the golf that's being played. Obviously I got a lot of love from last week as well. So it's been nothing but awesome.

Q. Did it kind of help last week, did you just feel like you kind of kicked on into this week? Or obviously you had some nerves, new experience, how was that?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: It's just a different tournament. Similar kind of golf, which helped. Monday and Tuesday earlier this week, I was really beat up and just kind of -- just trying to kind of take it easy and just trying to take it all in.