In a week billed as Rory’s home-turf tune-up for The Open, it was an unheralded 25-year-old American, Chris Gotterup, who stole the show. With Renaissance Club drenched in linksy drama, leaderboard volatility, and more bounce than a late-night chippy queue, the Scottish Open delivered a chaotic, glorious pre-Portrush warmup.
And Gotterup? He didn’t so much arrive as detonate: ranked 158th in the world, still best known for his beard and college resume, he outplayed McIlroy, dodged gorse bushes, and calmly brushed off a slow-play warning en route to his second PGA Tour win.
Chris Gotterup’s Quiet Storm 
In a field full of big names and Open prep, it was Chris Gotterup who calmly stole the show. The 25-year-old American, ranked outside the top 150, carded a majestic 61 on Friday to launch himself into contention, and never let go of the reins. While others wobbled, Gotterup kept grinding.
The closing stretch wasn’t without drama. His tee shot on the 16th took a nasty bounce into the crowd, flirting with disaster. But fortune favoured the brave. He recovered beautifully and knocked in a birdie that ultimately iced the tournament.
Then came the pace warning. With two holes to play and a two-shot lead, tournament officials put him on the clock. Many players would crumble under that kind of late-round scrutiny. Gotterup? He shrugged it off and finished par-par like it was a Tuesday round with his mates.
It’s his second PGA Tour win, but his first overseas and make no mistake, this one will sting for the chasing pack. Gotterup might not be a household name yet, but performances like this don’t go unnoticed.
Rory McIlroy’s Final-Hole Fade
It was all set up for Rory. After eight holes on Sunday, he was tied for the lead, flush with momentum and crowd support. The script was writing itself; the Northern Irish hero tuning up for Portrush with another win on Scottish soil.
And then… nothing. Ten straight pars to finish. No birdie surge, no fireworks, no fist pumps. No implosion either though. Just steady, controlled, and ultimately not enough. Like watching a kettle that never quite boils.
He finished tied for second at 13-under, two shots back from Gotterup, and while the form looks sharp heading into The Open, the closing flatness felt all too familiar. Remember when he came up short to Cam Smith at St Andrews? Still, he’ll arrive at Portrush as one of the favourites and rightly so. But for Rory, the question isn’t whether the game is there. It’s whether he can finish the job when it matters most.
Honourable Mentions
Marco Penge: Matched Rory at -13, secured Open spot.
Fitzpatrick & Højgaard: T4 at -12, booking Portrush places.
Justin Rose: Sunday 63 — where’s that been all year?
Bob MacIntyre: Last year’s champ. This year? “Horrific defence” at +2 and out of it.
Bang Average Moment of the Week
Gotterup’s Slow-Play Warning – Clocked by the officials with two holes to go. Instead of panicking or whining, he just shrugged, exhaled, and closed out the W. Pressure? What pressure?
Portrush Watch: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not
Trending Up
Gotterup: Momentum, belief, beard power.
Rory: Solid tee to green, no disasters, just needs to close.
Fitzpatrick: Steady all week, sneaky links form.
Højgaard: Big boy ball flight, soft hands, primed for wind.
Lukewarm or Worse
Bob MacIntyre: Local lad, but totally lost right now.
Morikawa: Missed cut. Again. Confidence low.
Spaun: After a solid US Open, has vanished.
Sungjae Im: Barely sniffed the cut line.
Who’s Most Likely to Implode at The Open?
Cam Young – Can’t putt in a pub pool match.
Tony Finau – The Open loves a tee-to-green merchant who melts when the putter’s needed.
Collin Morikawa – Feels like the fade is real.
Sergio Garcia – If LIV pressure doesn’t get him, Portrush’s bunkers might.
Tom Kim – One round of brilliance, three of burnout. Rinse. Repeat.
