Brooks Koepka Praises Rising PGA Star Chris Gotterup

Koepka lauds Gotterup's fast start to the 2026 PGA Tour season with two early wins.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Following Chris Gotterup's impressive start to the 2026 PGA Tour season, which includes two early wins at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open, four-time major champion Brooks Koepka has heaped praise on the 26-year-old rising star. Koepka highlighted Gotterup's strong play and noted that he has been a topic of conversation among players on tour.

Why it matters

Gotterup's early-season success has drawn comparisons to Koepka himself, a testament to the young player's immense potential. As one of the game's top players, Koepka's endorsement carries significant weight and could help elevate Gotterup's profile on the PGA Tour.

The details

Gotterup, who is averaging 322 yards off the tee and ranks fourth on tour in strokes gained off the tee, has already picked up two victories this season. Despite missing the cut at the Genesis Invitational and struggling with consistency in his last five rounds, Koepka believes Gotterup has all the attributes to become a top player on tour, with some even predicting he could soon contend at a major championship.

  • Gotterup picked up wins at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open earlier this year.
  • Koepka is set to return this week at the Cognizant Classic.

The players

Brooks Koepka

A four-time major champion on the PGA Tour.

Chris Gotterup

A 26-year-old PGA Tour player who has won twice already this season, including at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Chris, pretty good, considering he's won twice. I haven't played with him. I've obviously watched him hit balls and seen his results, and I think that's pretty good.”

— Brooks Koepka (yardbarker.com)

“But I would say that's a name that probably sticks out right now. Another Nike guy. Everybody has been talking about him for a while, so it's good to see.”

— Brooks Koepka (yardbarker.com)

What’s next

Koepka is set to return this week at the Cognizant Classic, where he will have a chance to see Gotterup's game up close.

The takeaway

Gotterup's early-season success has drawn high praise from one of the game's top players in Brooks Koepka, who sees immense potential in the 26-year-old rising star. Koepka's endorsement could help elevate Gotterup's profile on the PGA Tour as he looks to build on his impressive start and potentially contend at major championships in the near future.