SILVIS, ILLINOIS - JULY 05: Chris Gotterup of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the third round of the John Deere Classic 2025 at TPC Deere Run on July 05, 2025 in Silvis, Illinois.
Photograph courtesy of David Berding/Getty Images/AFP
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — World No. 158 Chris Gotterup outshot Rory McIlroy to win the Scottish Open on Sunday by two strokes from the Masters champion.
Gotterup's four-under-par round of 66 to finish on 15 under was too good for McIlroy, who finished tied for second with England's Marco Penge.
The American had only won once previously on the PGA Tour and also secured himself a spot in next week's British Open at Royal Portrush.
"This is awesome," Gotterup said.
“It's all hitting me. It's just so cool.”
"I played really well this week, and I knew today was going to be tough. I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style."
McIlroy will get a hero's welcome on his Northern Ireland homecoming next week but missed the chance to win for the first time since his Masters triumph in April.
Gotterup got off to the worst possible start with a bogey at the opening hole as the nerves of playing in the final group with the world No. 2 showed.
"Hitting it in the bunker on the first hole, I'm like, uh-oh, here we go," Gotterup added.
"But I held it together really well and then it was so much fun out there."
He quickly composed himself with birdies at the third, seventh, eighth, 10th and 12th.
A bogey at the 15th shaved his lead to one shot, but Gotterup bounced back immediately to birdie the par-five 16th, while McIlroy had to settle for par.
"Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid. After he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back," McIlroy said.
"It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.”
"There's no frustration really. I'm really happy with where everything is. I feel like I've gotten out of this week everything, really, that I wanted."
Nicolai Hojgaard also qualified for the British Open thanks to his share of fourth with Matt Fitzpatrick on 12 under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending British Open champion Xander Schauffele finished in a share of eighth on nine under as they honed their game to the seaside links conditions ahead of the fourth and final major of the season.
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