Chris Gotterup’s Week Off Included a Practice Round at Augusta

Chris Gotterup hasn’t exactly eased into 2026.

After a week off following his win at the Sony Open, the sixth-ranked player in the world rattled off four straight starts—a run that included another victory at the WM Phoenix Open. Not a bad way to start the year.

So how did he spend his first real breather from the PGA TOUR schedule?

By checking something off the bucket list.

“Me and my dad and my brother actually went and got a practice round in at Augusta,” Gotterup said Tuesday during his pre-tournament press conference at Bay Hill. “So a week off kind of, but, yeah, that was awesome to be able to go up there.”

For Gotterup, it was a first look at Augusta National in person—and like most first-timers, he quickly realized TV doesn’t quite do it justice.

He noted the chute off the 18th tee is far tighter than it appears on the broadcast. The second green? Smaller than expected. The first? Much more severe. His favorite hole, though, was the par-4 seventh—a bit of a deep cut compared to some of the property’s more famous headliners.

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And yes, he made the mandatory stop in the pro shop.

“(I bought) a couple hats. I got my brother and my dad something,” he said. “Then I got my mom and sister and girlfriend taken care of. Yeah, that's a mandatory. I got some playing cards and stuff for just little things like that.”

Now it’s back to business.

Gotterup will make his debut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week, a venue that should suit his game. He may have missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational in his last start, but don’t be surprised if the Rutgers product is squarely in the mix come Sunday at Bay Hill.

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