JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 3, 2026

Chris Gotterup

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about today and the round and did the golf course play a little different, or did the rain change anything at all?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Well, first off, I felt like I did a good job today and really minimized stress pretty well, other than hole 6. Yeah, it was different, considering the rain and then the wind switched. It started blowing 30 miles an hour out of nowhere, complete opposite direction. Yeah, definitely different.

Yesterday was firm, hot, and fast, and today was kind of soft and a little longer, and then obviously the fluke little wind switch there. Yeah, I mean, just a good day all around.

Q. How different are you from how you were even a couple of years ago when you were playing on sponsors exemption, you got the T-4. Now you're back with three wins on your résumé. How different of a person and player are you now?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Hopefully a similar person, but yeah, definitely a different player. I think, you know, especially here my first year, I think it was like my third tournament as a pro, came in fourth. I was like, all right, I think I got something here.

Then to be able to play well and kind of climb my way up the ranks has been fun. Hard but fun at the same time. I feel like, you know, my bad weeks have gotten a lot better, which is a good sign. Obviously my good weeks have resulted in really good.

Hopefully this is a good week. Yeah, just keep grinding along.

Q. Can you explain your affinity for the golf course and for the tournament?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah. You know, I think, one, it's like a chill -- other than it's 100 degrees, it's a chill week for everyone. It's nice. The Big Dig is a lot of fun. They take great care of us here.

Selfishly, I think the golf course fits my eye nicely. Yeah, I just kind of enjoy playing. I think it requires some shop shaping, which I like.

Yeah, not much else to say other than that. I feel like I've played well here, so continue to come back.

Q. Kind of on that same note, you're going to Scotland next week to defend your title. Was there any consideration of skipping this one? What brought you back?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I mean, it's kind of a -- from the start of the year you kind of map it out, but something is always going to change.

I wanted to play. I felt like this stretch last year kind of kick-started my whole year. Obviously I got off to a great start, but that doesn't mean that I don't need reps or just need to take time off.

I'm not going to overdo it by any stretch of the imagination, but I just felt like this was a good stretch to kind of play, and obviously the charter over helps, so that makes life a little easier. Yeah, there wasn't much consideration of not being here.

Q. The U.K. swing was kind of your coming-out party last year with your win at the Scottish and then the high finish at the Open. Are you excited to get back over there? What is it about links golf that seems at least last year to bring out the best in you?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, obviously excited to get back. It was a good two-week stretch over there.

I just feel like there's so much creativity that's involved. Obviously I was playing amazing at that time, so any course you play at that time feels fun to play. I just think the creativity needed and the conditions that you play in, it's kind of just different. Yeah, I enjoyed the challenge, and I don't know, I just felt like it brought the best out of me. Hopefully it does the same the next two weeks.

Q. You mentioned this tournament is chill. You kind of have got that reputation, that vibe. There's the Taco Bell story. Clearly you don't get where you're at without the work ethic. Can you talk about the dichotomy between your seemingly laid-back personality and what it takes to succeed at this level?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, I think a lot of guys would say you have to have the good on-off switch. I think when you're out here, you've got to be on, but the second you leave, you've got to shut it off. I've gotten better at that over time. I try not to take what happens on the course with me home and go be the same person at home.

Yeah, I don't get too worked up. I'll obviously bet pissed if something doesn't go my way. I'm not going to say I don't care, but yeah, I try to be chill about it and try to roll with the punches, good and bad. Yeah, that's pretty much it.

Q. Can you talk about your approach to playing No. 4 and the change there, and you have dialed it back a little bit hitting 2-iron off a couple of tees, is that accurate? Not that tee, but other tees.

CHRIS GOTTERUP: Yeah, I mean, some holes that don't require a driver, I'm going to dial it back. Yeah, 4 is way different. I mean, I remember trying to hit driver over the corner and have a short wedge in. Yesterday I hit 7-iron in, and today the wind switched, so it was pretty short.

Definitely a much harder hole. Yeah, it's just very different. The second shot is the same, but it's 40 yards longer, so a little different, yeah.

Q. It usually takes four pretty low rounds to win this tournament. Does that change your mindset at all going into the weekend?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: No. It like you said, you kind of go in here knowing that you have to play really well. Yeah, I felt like we played kind of tough conditions the first two days relatively speaking. I felt like I handled it well, so I'm sure guys are going to go play well this afternoon.

Going to have to go play well on the weekend, regardless. Whatever that number is, just go out there and try to play well.