Chris Gotterup: East Lake tee box change avoided player uproar
Chris Gotterup said there would have been "a lot of complaining" from Tour Championship players if the PGA Tour had used the back tee box on East Lake's par-three 15th on Friday. Instead, the hole played from 155 yards in gusty wind—still the toughest on the course that day. The 27-year-old sits one stroke off the lead after rounds of 64 and 67, with a potential Player of the Year award on the line.
Key Takeaways
- Gotterup joked that using the back tee at East Lake's 15th would have triggered widespread player complaints.
- Even from 155 yards, the par-three averaged 0.138 over par on Friday—the hardest hole of round two.
- Gotterup is one stroke behind Viktor Hovland and Ryan Gerard heading into the Tour Championship weekend.
- The five-time PGA Tour winner is chasing Presidents Cup selection after missing last year's Ryder Cup squad.
What change did the PGA Tour make at East Lake?
After his second-round 67 on Friday, Gotterup told reporters that conditions stiffened once the wind switched and picked up. Players faced hole 15 from 155 yards rather than the longer back box, which can stretch beyond 200 yards.
"We were laughing and saying, if we played the back box today, there would be a lot of complaining going on," Gotterup admitted, according to Yahoo Sports. The decision to keep the forward tee effectively spared the field an even more punishing test.
Why was East Lake's 15th hole so difficult on Friday?
From 155 yards, the 15th still played as the most difficult hole on day two. The field averaged 0.138 strokes over par on the par-three, with just three birdies matching the number of double bogeys or worse.
The pin sat tight to the green edge, with water lurking short and left. In the shifting wind, players were aiming 30–40 feet right of the pin with wedges in hand—a snapshot of how demanding the setup remained despite the shorter tee.
Where does Chris Gotterup stand at the Tour Championship?
Gotterup opened with a six-under 64 on Thursday and followed with a 67 on Friday. He trails co-leaders Hovland and Gerard by a single stroke with 36 holes left at East Lake.
A victory would put him in serious contention for PGA Tour Player of the Year. Gotterup has won three times this season and ranks among the tour's hottest players after bursting onto the scene with a Genesis Scottish Open win last July.
How do Gotterup's Ryder Cup comments fit the storyline?
Gotterup missed last year's U.S. Ryder Cup team despite strong form, and he told reporters Thursday he "probably wouldn't have picked myself if I was the captain" after struggling in the 2025 playoffs. He said putting, driving, and wedge play have improved in 2026.
With stronger playoff performances this year, Gotterup is focused on earning a Presidents Cup spot. For more sports and trending alerts, browse our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.