TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 27, 2026

Chris Gotterup

East Lake Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. What did you do best today?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I felt like I kept it in the fairway for the most part and really didn't give myself any tricky up-and-downs other than the first hole. I felt like I managed the course pretty well. The tougher holes, I felt like I played how you're supposed to.

Yeah, I felt like I just played a relatively stress-free round.

Q. Did the rain this morning kind of soften the golf course up a little bit for you guys?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: For sure. It was getting really fast out there. The practice rounds were fast. It's still -- I don't think it really makes it a whole lot easier honestly. Maybe the approaches into the green are a little longer.

It's still got some teeth. If you're not in the fairway, it's going to be a long day out here.

Q. I don't know how much or at all you played this pre-renovation, but people talked about grass settling in and stuff like that. I was just wondering where you feel it is in that process?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I feel like it's really good. I think a course like Memphis, it's still kind of getting there, and you can kind of tell on the greens. But out here, the greens are pretty immaculate. All the other areas are really good.

Yeah, the chipping areas are like AstroTurf. It's pretty good. Obviously there's some sections, because they did a couple new things this year, but that's to be expected with new golf courses.

Q. You're not inside the top six for an auto qualifying spot, but in a very good spot. What are you looking forward to about Presidents Cup if you get the call?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I think, one, that's been my goal the whole year is to be on the team and hopefully get that done come next week. Yeah, just being there, being a part of the team, being with the guys, and being able to compete for USA will be hopefully a cool feeling.

Q. Last year kind of tried to make a push for Ryder Cup. You were kind of right on the bubble. This year probably feels a little bit more comfortable. Has it felt a little less pressure, a little less weight that you've had to put on it compared to last year?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I think having last year helped for this year just knowing that like you're never kind of safe. I think last year I was like, all right, I'm in a good spot. Not that I ever thought I was going to be on the team until the end of the year, but I really didn't play well in the playoffs and probably wouldn't have picked myself if I was the captain.

I feel like this year I've been just trying to focus on my game and not make anything bigger than what it is. Obviously I think my playoffs have been pretty good so far, especially compared to last year. If I can keep that up, I should be in good shape hopefully.

Q. What's the biggest stride you feel like you've made in your game or in you as a player this year from last year?

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I feel like my putting has gotten a lot better this year. I've driven the ball nice this year. Last year I started off driving it poorly and then started driving it nice at the end of the year. I feel like just little things like wedges I've gotten better, but I still have room to improve for sure.

Just par-5 scoring, I've added clubs that maybe give me more versatility that I didn't have before. All that said, I think when I get my stats report at the end of the year, I'll still have plenty of stuff to work on.

Q. Does this golf course favor a specific shape off the tee? Some guys have said -- at least for guys that cut the ball, some uncomfortable ones. Just wondering if you, now going around it a good amount of times --

CHRIS GOTTERUP: I don't really know. I would say no. I think, if there are doglegs, you can hit a draw. You know, if it's a dogleg right, you can hit a draw and be fine.

There's a couple -- you know, like 8, if you hit a draw, there's water left, but if you hit a cut, it's rough right. Those are one of those holes where you just have to hit a good shot.

No, there's enough like -- there's enough space off the tee visually that I think you can kind of hit what you want, but at the end of the day, you've just got to -- whatever gets it in the fairway. I don't think there's one -- if you're hitting a fade, you don't have a massive advantage over someone that hits a draw.