Monmouth County Golfer Places 3rd At British Open

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Monmouth County golfer and Rutgers alumnus Chris Gotterup had a one-of-a-kind birthday on Sunday, after he placed third at the British Open Championship in Northern Ireland.

Gotterup, 26, earned his spot in the championship after he won the Scottish Open earlier in July, securing his second PGA Tour Title and beating Grand Slam Champion Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.

On Sunday, Gotterup finished third in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, falling just behind Harris English, who finished in second, and Scottie Scheffler, who finished in first.

Though Gotterup didn’t win the overall competition, he still expressed pride in his performance and received plenty of love from friends, family and his fellow New Jerseyans.

“I really, really did everything well, and I was really proud of how I started,” Gotterup said of the competition in an interview following the championship. “I felt like I had a good head on my shoulders all day and really was trying to focus on being present in my round.”

Rob Shutte, the head coach of golf at Rutgers University, shared in the celebration following Gotterup’s performance, stating in a Rutgers Athletics article that Gotterup is showing the world what Rutgers has always known — that he’s capable of greatness.

"It's fun to see Chris show off that New Jersey toughness on the global scale. His pride, his talent, humility, and work ethic make this fun to watch for all of us,” Shutte said. “The pride and support we have felt from our RU fan base has been amazing. He's showing the world what we at Rutgers have always known — that he's capable of greatness."

In addition to his Scottish Open victory and third-place win at the British Open, Gotterup has also won the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic, according to his PGA Tour bio.

While he was born in Maryland, he grew up and played in Little Silver over the years, and comes from a family of athletes. His father, Morten, has five NJ State Golf Association victories, and his sister, Anna, attends the U.S. Naval Academy and competes on the women’s lacrosse team.

Following his time at the British Open, Gotterup will now return to the U.S. with a third-place victory and around $2.7 million that he earned in eight days, according to the PGA Tour website.

The Monmouth County golfer will also leave the competition with the memory of a unique birthday celebration, as he was surprised at The Open with a birthday cake from Sky Sports Golf for his 26th birthday.

“Appreciate the love from The Open,” Gotterup said in an online post following the championship. “Let’s keep her rollin.”

Previous Coverage

• ‘Hometown Hero’: Monmouth County Golfer Wins Scottish Open