The 2026 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale delivered exactly what golf fans have come to expect from the PGA Tour’s annual desert spectacle: drama, dazzling performances, and a finish that had hearts pounding right up until the very end. On February 8, 2026, Chris Gotterup etched his name in tournament lore, outlasting Hideki Matsuyama in a sudden-death playoff to claim his fourth career PGA Tour victory—and his second of the young season.
For the fifth time in the past eight years, the Phoenix Open required extra holes to crown a champion. The electricity in the air was palpable, with hundreds of thousands of fans creating an atmosphere that’s as much a party as a golf tournament. But when the dust settled, it was Gotterup who stood tallest, having birdied five of his final six holes in regulation and then sealing the deal on the first playoff hole.
“It’s a dream come true to win here with this crowd and this field,” Gotterup said after holing a clutch birdie putt to secure the $1.728 million winner’s share from the $9.6 million purse. “I just tried to stay aggressive and keep believing in my game.”
Heading into Sunday’s final round, all eyes were on Hideki Matsuyama. The Japanese star, already a two-time WM Phoenix Open champion (2016, 2017), held a narrow one-shot lead over four players, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Matsuyama had converted all five of his previous 54-hole leads into victories, giving him a reputation as a closer. But as the afternoon wore on, the pressure mounted and the fairways narrowed.
Matsuyama’s struggles off the tee became apparent early. He missed 11 fairways on the day, yet somehow managed to grind his way to a 68, finishing tied with Gotterup at 16-under 268. The pivotal moment came at the par-4 18th in regulation. Matsuyama’s tee shot found the infamous church pew bunkers, and he was unable to get up-and-down from 43 yards, settling for bogey and opening the door for Gotterup.
Gotterup, meanwhile, was on a tear. After a steady start, he caught fire on the back nine, rattling off birdies on five of the last six holes. His final-round 64 matched the low score of the day and gave him a shot at the title. When Matsuyama faltered late, the two were headed for a playoff, the fifth such finish at TPC Scottsdale since 2018.
The playoff itself was a microcosm of the day’s tension. Both players returned to the 18th tee, but Matsuyama’s nerves showed as he pulled his drive even further left than in regulation, the ball ricocheting off the bank and into the water. After a drop, he managed to reach the green, but Gotterup was in prime position. Calm and collected, Gotterup drained a birdie putt from outside 20 feet—leaving no doubt and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
“I just tried to stay loose and keep swinging aggressively,” Gotterup explained. “When I saw Hideki’s ball go in the water, I knew I had a chance, but I didn’t want to play it safe. I wanted to win it with a birdie.”
For Matsuyama, it was a tough pill to swallow. Not only did he miss the chance to become the fifth three-time winner of the WM Phoenix Open, joining legends like Phil Mickelson and Arnold Palmer, but he also saw his perfect record when leading after three rounds slip away. Still, his runner-up finish earned him a healthy $1.0464 million and reaffirmed his place among the game’s elite.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player and a two-time Phoenix Open champion himself (2022, 2023), nearly made it a three-way playoff. After a shaky opening round that left him flirting with the cut line, Scheffler stormed back with rounds of 65 and a final-round 64. He produced fireworks on Sunday, including a 72-foot bomb for birdie on the 14th and a two-putt birdie from 63 feet on 17. But a missed birdie putt on 18 left him at 15-under, tied for third with Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Nicolai Hojgaard.
“I gave it everything I had,” Scheffler said. “Sometimes you just come up a shot short. But I love playing here—the fans, the energy, it’s just special.”
Brooks Koepka, another former champion and headline-maker, missed the cut this week, a reminder of just how deep and competitive the field has become. The leaderboard was packed with talent throughout the weekend, with Michael Thorbjornsen briefly seizing the lead after an eagle on 15 before slipping back with a bogey on 16.
The Phoenix Open is known as the PGA Tour’s rowdiest stop, and 2026 was no exception. The event once again coincided with Super Bowl weekend, offering fans a double dose of sports excitement. Final-round tee times began at 11 a.m. ET, with coverage spanning Golf Channel, CBS, ESPN+, and Sirius XM, ensuring that every dramatic twist was broadcast to a nationwide audience. The unique atmosphere—with its stadium-style 16th hole and raucous crowds—remains unmatched in professional golf.
For Gotterup, this victory marks a significant milestone. Not only did he capture his second PGA Tour win of the year, having already triumphed at the Sony Open, but he also solidified his reputation as one of the game’s rising stars. His fourth career victory sends him to Pebble Beach next week with momentum—and a target on his back.
As the sun set over Scottsdale, fans lingered in the stands, savoring another unforgettable finish. The 2026 WM Phoenix Open delivered on every front: a world-class field, high-stakes drama, and a champion who rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Gotterup’s name now joins the ranks of Phoenix Open legends, and golf fans are already counting down the days until the Tour’s biggest party returns to the desert.