Chris Gotterup made Rutgers history at the Masters — but his first round was a missed opportunity
· Yahoo Sports
Chris Gotterup made Rutgers history at 1:08 p.m. when the starter at Augusta National — “FORE, PLEASE!” — announced to the patrons gathered around the first tee box that the Little Silver native was about to hit his first tee shot at the Masters.
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This is something no Rutgers golfer had ever done in the 90-year history of the famous tournament, a fact that no doubt makes Gotterup proud. Rutgers leaned into the moment on social media, producing a three-and-a-half-minute video with coaches, friends and officials from the university wishing him luck.
But let’s be real. That wasn’t the history that Gotterup had his eyes on when he pulled his rental car up Magnolia Lane on Thursday morning. He was shooting to become the first golfer since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win the Masters on his first try — and plenty of experts believed he had a shot to do just that.
He still does, too, even after an up-and-down first round on Thursday. Gotterup shot an even-par 72, leaving him five strokes behind defending champion Rory McIlroy and American Sam Burns. But given the makeable birdie putts he missed on the back nine, Gotterup likely left the course a little frustrated.
He experienced all of the high and lows that Augusta National can offer a player, including a disappointing bogey on the iconic par-3 12th hole that took some momentum away from what was shaping up to be a solid first round and a booming 361-yard drive on the par-5 15th hole that led to a birdie.
Then, on the par 13 16th, he hit his best shot of the day, curving a 9 iron to three feet. “That’s a perfect push from Gotterup, and he has the patrons on their feet on 16!” the Masters.com broadcaster cooed.
Alas, Gotterup missed the putt. He also missed six footer on the 17th hole that had him shaking his head. It was that kind of day.
It would be hard to be too disappointed. The four-time PGA Tour winner, who owns a world ranking of No. 9 and $10.8 million in tournament winnings in his short career, had arrived at Augusta National on Monday vowing to soak in the experience.
“I’m just trying to enjoy it. As a first timer, I think that’s the only thing you can do,” he said.
Everything is magnified at the Masters. On Monday afternoon, Gotterup was the first player in the interview room at Augusta National’s mansion-like media center, where he was asked if he knew every hole was named after a flower (he did not) and how many he could name (he did not try).
“It’s not going to be good. I’m going to take a pass,” Gotterup said as the reporters chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t think I’d get as many as you would hope.”
He also made this bold promise: He wouldn’t have butterflies about playing a course that has defined the careers of every golfer since Bobby Jones.
“I don’t think anything about the course makes me nervous,” Gotterup said. “I think I’m going to be nervous on the first tee for sure. I think it’s more the excitement and getting ready to play in the Masters more than -- at the end of the day, every tournament you go out and you try to perform your best. So it’s more of just trying to settle down the nerves of playing.”
In a high-profile threesome with former champion Jon Rahm and perennial contender Ludvig Aberg, Gotterup played in front of large galleries all day. He had outplayed both of them, too, when he tapped in for par on the 18th hole at 6:35 p.m. for his even-par 72.
His first go-around at Augusta National was in the books. Now, starting Friday, first Rutgers golfer at the Masters will have three more rounds to try to make a different kind of history.
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