AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) 鈥� First-time participants almost never win the Masters.
Then again, they rarely show up with a resume like Chris Gotterup’s.
The 26-year-old Gotterup already has four PGA Tour wins, meaning he’ll be the third player since World War II to make his Masters debut with that many. He’s already won twice this year and joins Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman as the highest-ranked first-timers this week. All three are in the world top 20.
鈥淛ust embracing the whole experience,鈥� Gotterup said. 鈥淭rying to take it all in and enjoy it while also trying to go out there and compete and give it everything I鈥檝e got.鈥�
Not since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 has a Masters rookie won the tournament, and before that nobody had won his debut since Gene Sarazen in the second year of the event. But favorites like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy haven鈥檛 been all that dominant lately, and Gotterup stands out with his wins in the Sony Open and Phoenix Open earlier this year.
He also won the Scottish Open last year. The immediate reward for that victory was a trip to Royal Portrush for Gotterup’s first British Open, but it also qualified him for the Masters.
Gotterup finally more than a month ago. He says he didn’t want to come to the Masters previously because watching 鈥� instead of playing 鈥� would be difficult to handle. And it’s not as though he was being bombarded with opportunities to try out the course on his own time.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e actually ever declined an invite. I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檝e been invited. So you can鈥檛 turn down nothing,鈥� said Gotterup, whose first PGA Tour win was at an opposite-field event in 2024. 鈥淚 have gotten offered to come watch the tournament from sponsors or from whoever it may be, and I said I can鈥檛 go over there until I play. Or else if I鈥檓 retired, then I can go over.鈥�
Bridgeman, who won in February in his first attempt there, came to Augusta as an autograph-seeking 10-year-old in 2010. He got the chance to play the course when he was a freshman at Clemson, which is about 100 miles away.
鈥淲e had a couple members that hosted and we were able to bring down a group of nine of us, so I played with a roommate of mine and we had a blast.鈥� Bridgeman said. 鈥淚 remember teeing it up on (No.) 1 and there was not a soul around and I was super nervous. A little bit more comfortable this time. I don鈥檛 know what it is. I鈥檓 kind of in tournament mode.鈥�
Griffin came to the course in November and again last week. Of course, he didn’t need to see Augusta National up close to understand its history.
鈥淭ons of memories, all the iconic shots that have been hit. The one that comes to mind first is Tiger Woods鈥� chip on 16 with the dramatic Nike symbol,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel like every hole there鈥檚 like a shot that鈥檚 been hit by someone that I鈥檝e either heard of or seen on television that I kind of remember.鈥�
Griffin played the back nine Monday. Gotterup played the front with veteran Justin Rose. Bridgeman’s group included 18-year-old Mason Howell, last year’s . Howell is a University of Georgia commit who figures to have plenty of support this week.
Howell is keeping expectations manageable and says his goal is to play four good rounds. Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champ who finished tied for 20th in his first appearance, recommends that approach for any young newcomer.
鈥淭here鈥檚 very few that鈥檚 won it the first time,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淏ut talent can take over and anybody can win because they鈥檙e good enough to get here, they鈥檙e good enough to win. Just enjoy it. You want your first one to be, just enjoy it, take it all in, try to learn some things and get ready for the next time you come around here.鈥�
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