Chris Gotterup fired a six-under-par 64 to surge to victory in the PGA Tour’s season-opening Sony Open, while veteran Vijay Singh finished five under in Hawaii on Sunday.
Gotterup, who started the final round at Honolulu’s windswept Waialae Country Club two shots off the pace, reeled off seven birdies and only one bogey to claim the third win of his career.
The 26-year-old from Maryland finished on 16-under-par 264, two shots clear of compatriot Ryan Gerard, who carded a closing 65.
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Gotterup’s win follows his victory at last year’s Scottish Open when he held off Rory McIlroy for a two-shot victory, an experience he said helped him on Sunday.
Speaking after the win, Gotterup couldn’t hide his emotion, breaking into tears in an interview when asked about his last nine months.
“It’s been crazy, it’s been a lot of fun but I have a great team,” he said, before bringing his hand to his face, choking back tears.
“Everyone at home… I can’t get through this part every time, but I just have a great team and everyone believes in me.
Reflecting on whether his win over McIlroy helped his latest victory, he said: “I felt like when I’ve been in control of my game, when I’ve had a chance to win, I’ve done it.
“When you get in contention, you’re able to hit shots under the gun, you just believe in yourself that you can do it again.
“Sometimes there is blind luck involved, and I’ll take as much as I can get. I played pretty good this week.”
Singh, meanwhile, is playing in his first non-Masters event since 2021, cashing in a career money earnings exemption to win a full-time position on the Tour this year.
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The rule allows any former Tour player who is among the top 50 all-time earners to regain full membership for one year.
Singh was criticised for his decision, with many believing he was taking the Tour card of a young player more deserving, having not made a Tour cut since 2020.
However, he made the cut at the Sony Open, firin off scores of 68 and 70 to finish the second round at -2, seven shots behind the leaders.
He finished the event tied 40th, five under after shooting one under in the fourth round.
Elsewhere, Patrick Rodgers finished third on 13 under, three off the lead, while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre was a shot back on 12 under alongside Jacob Bridgeman.
MacIntyre was the day’s big mover, vaulting 16 places up the leaderboard after a bogey-free seven-under-par 63.
But there was disappointment for third-round leader Davis Riley, who fell out of contention despite a bright start that included two birdies in his opening five holes to get to 14-under.
Riley’s challenge faltered after back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes and a double-bogey on the eighth saw himcard a 71 for a share of sixth on 11-under.
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