SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 18, 2026

Chris Gotterup

Waialae Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Chris, pretty much flawless back nine for to you slam the door shut and get your third win on the PGA TOUR. How were you able to get it done?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, I just felt like this week I was in a good frame of mind. Really was just happy to be here and felt like I was just in control of my brain, which is the most important thing.

Then obviously I played well. Feel like I drove it great and made some putts when it mattered.

Q. Driving it great might have been an understatement with the display we saw on the back nine. Not only did you hit every fairway, you had three tee shots over 335. In an old-school layout that doesn't necessarily reward bombers, how were you able to take advantage of it?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I think we talked about this at the beginning of the week. This reminds me of home a little bit. It's just the way the holes work.

And, yeah, I mean, no doubt about it you have to hit some good shots. 16 and 18 are not built for me if I had to build a golf course, but I found a way to find a shot that I liked for that hole.

Yeah, I mean, I was in great control of my game and Brady kept my head screwed on straight. Yeah, just couldn't be happier.

Q. Last year at this time you were leaving Honolulu after missing the cut, you were outside of top 200 in the World Golf Rankings. With this win you'll move into the top 20. What's the ride been like not just the last year, but really the last nine months?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: It's been crazy. It's been a lot of fun, but I've got a great team. Everyone at home -- I can't get though this part every time. Yeah, I just have a great team and everyone believes in me.

Q. We've been seeing it on full display and it's been amazing. Chris, I know the emotions are coming to you. The guys were calling back to the Genesis Scottish Open, what it meant to you to stare down Rory McIlroy. How much confidence did that give you?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, a lot. You know, I felt like when I've been in control of my game, when I've had a chance to win, I've done it. This is another example.

Yeah, it's just when you get in contention, you're able to hit shots under the gun, you just believe in yourself that you can do it again.

Sometimes there is blind luck involved, and I'll take as much as I can get. I played pretty good this week.

Q. You now have three wins on the PGA TOUR, three seasons you've been able to have a win, and do it in the very first event right out of the gates to kick off 2026. How will this set you up for the rest of the year?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I mean, hopefully pretty good. You couldn't dream up a better start. This is big for me, too, because this kicks in the five-year whatever it's called for retirement reasons. Now I don't have to worry about that. Not that I was but, it's just a nice bonus. There is a lot of nice things that come with it.

Yeah, I mean, it's just a big -- you never know how you're going to start the year and to start like this is really icing on the cake.

Q. Finally, you had told me earlier in the week you were in the Ryder Cup up conversation, but you have an eye towards Medina this fall?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, I hope Sneds was watching.

Q. Chris Gotterup, you started the day chasing a little bit, but once you got that lead it's almost like your whole world slowed down. You looked so comfortable out there walking the fairways. Was that the case, or were you still out there things kind of rumbling and tumbling a little bit?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, it's always rumbling and tumbling, but I felt like I had good control of what I was doing and had my head screwed on straight.

We had a great game plan and executed really nicely. When you string together some good shots under the gun, it makes the next one a little easier.

You know, yesterday I felt like I was in the rough a lot and today it was less of the case. Makes this course easier.

Q. Without a doubt. Met your pops earlier this week and he said you historically haven't started your seasons very well. What was the difference this year? You came out firing on all cylinders in that opening round.

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I don't know. We definitely came into the season more prepared. Me and my team, we did a lot of work beforehand. I moved to Florida, too, so tried to get a club in any hand some more in the offseason.

Yeah, I don't know. We try -- all of us, we try to find something to take the next step, and whatever we did I guess it worked.

Q. This golf course doesn't really seem to set up for guys that hit it as far as you do. Your ball flight, I got to say watching all the players this week, you're the one that really brought the ball out of the air the most and hit shots you needed to to find the fairways, to find the greens. Also to take driver out and dismantle some of these par-4s out there. Was that the game plan all week?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, for me it's all about visuals and with the wind, what I'm getting. We're standing on the 1st hole and this is just built for me, this hole. Then there is holes like 16 where I didn't hit great shots all week, but wouldn't have mattered. I hit some good ones.

And I'm okay with laying back on some holes, but there are some holes where I feel like I'm push it even if I hit in the rough and it's worth it. So I was able to keep it in between the guardrails, and when I made good swings it was -- I was able to attack.

Q. You had a great game plan all week long. Congratulations.

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Thank you.

Q. Chris, congratulations. (Applause.)

16-under, the champion. Got his lei on and a wet shirt right now. What just happened, Chris?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, luckily my buddies were able to hang around and just soaked me in beer. Could be worse.

But, yeah, just a great day. Happy to be on top.

Q. Yesterday you told me 2-under was the score you would've taken with the wind.

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah.

Q. 6-under today; 16-under your winning score. When you came out this morning what were you thinking in your head?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Finally the first time getting on the range where the flags were whipping 20, so you knew you had to bring your A game because someone was going to play good, and happened to be me today.

Yeah, just felt good about what I was doing. Yeah, everything seemed to click.

Q. Made the turn with the lead; on 12 make a 21-foot birdie putt; on 13, you make a 26-foot birdie putt. You cut the corner on both those doglegs 13 and 14. What was going through you're head at the time?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Obviously a little bit of adrenaline. I haven't cut the corner on 14 like that all week, and 13 I wasn't sure if it got to the fairway. To walk up there and it be in the fairway was a huge bonus.

Yeah, felt like I was swinging it good all day. For me if I can take advantage of some holes when I can, it's a huge bonus.

Yeah, to make a couple 20-footers, felt like yesterday didn't make much, and, yeah, just a great way to finish.