Chris Gotterup is set to make his Masters debut next month, a milestone that marks another step in his rise through the PGA Tour ranks.
He made his first visit to Augusta National last week, joined by his father and a club member for a round. It was more than just a casual game; it was the fulfilment of a promise Gotterup had made to himself long before he broke through onto the main stage.
Over the past year, Gotterup has quickly become one of golf’s most recognisable players. Since July, he has picked up three wins and built a following with his straightforward approach and powerful play.
He’d always said he wouldn’t set foot on Augusta until he’d earned a place in The Masters. Now, with that goal achieved, the New Jersey native is making sure he’s as ready as possible for what lies ahead.
Chris Gotterup picks out three holes at Augusta that stood out to him
It’s been quite a journey for Gotterup, who not long ago was just another face in the field. Now, he’s heading to Augusta not just to take part, but with genuine ambitions of winning. The confidence in his game has grown that much.
Reflecting on his first round at Augusta National, Gotterup spoke about what caught him off guard compared to what he’d seen on television.
“I think like the one that really — well the chute on 18 is much tighter than TV gives it credit for,” the four-time PGA Tour winner said.
“I would say, like 2 with no people there, 2 green is so wild looking because it looks so massive on TV and obviously the framing of all the people behind you.
“It’s just like the green is just thrown in like perfect grass obviously. So it looked much smaller and different.”
The course clearly left an impression, and while plenty of players have said similar things over the years, every debutant seems to have their own version of these moments.
The reality of stepping onto a stage he’d only watched from afar has now hit home for Gotterup. He’ll be hoping familiarity grows quickly ahead of April.
How Chris Gotterup plans to attack Augusta National
Reporters asked Gotterup if he had put together a game plan during his first round at Augusta.
“Yeah, I think you do that anywhere you go, Gotterup said.
“But there’s definitely, I mean, I think that’s the one tournament or course where not having played I know every hole there.
“It’s just something that everyone watches the Masters and knows Augusta National, so there’s definitely holes where I was surprised like I said with certain balls and stuff that I probably need to prioritize in the weeks leading up to that.
“A couple, like hole 2 wouldn’t be a hole that suits my eye, preferably hitting a cut. So that’s something that I’ll touch on when I’m playing practice rounds or something fun beforehand.“
Experience and in-depth knowledge of the golf course always counts for a lot at Augusta National.
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