By Rich Chrampanis
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Little Silver’s Chris Gotterup is a four-time winner on the PGA Tour and is more than accustomed to playing the highest level of golf around the world. Those lofty accomplishments gave him the chance to play in the sport’s ultimate event.
Gotterup made his debut at the Masters, finishing in a tie for 24th at 2-under par. The Christian Brothers Academy graduate experienced the thrill of Augusta National with his entire family. A few weeks before the 2026 Masters, the Rutgers and University of Oklahoma product got the chance to play a practice round with his father, Morten and brother, Patrick, for the very first time at the famed course.
“Obviously, everyone in the world of golf would love to go play a round there, but obviously to be able to have the build-up into the Masters is awesome,” Gotterup said. “To be able to share that, my brother and my dad had never played either, so to be able to go down there with them and share that whole experience was really cool.”
Chris’ sister Anna, a senior on the Navy women’s lacrosse team, scored a goal in a 14-8 win over rival Army Saturday. She flew down to Georgia and got to see her brother play the final 18 holes.
Gotterup opened with an even-par 72 Thursday, then played his best 18 holes at Augusta National Friday with a 3-under 69, birdieing the 17th and 18th holes to earn the right to play the weekend. An eagle on Saturday at the second hole got him to 5-under par.
In the end, an even-par 72 and a 1-over 73 Sunday had him finish the week at 2-under par.
Gotterup is currently ranked 11th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and this is just the start of his time playing in April in Augusta.
“At some point, I had hoped to be here and to play in the Masters, but to be here, especially a year ago – before four wins – I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. “It’s been a fun ride the last year or so. Hopefully keep it going.”
The article originally appeared in the April 16 – 22, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
