Chris Gotterup's 5-Under 65 and Nobody At The PGA Championship Is Ready For It

Alright, you guys, buckle up! The PGA Championship is absolutely WILD right now, and one name just dropped a round that has everyone talking. Chris Gotterup, who's been on a tear this winter, just posted a mind-blowing 5-under 65, the best round of the tournament by two strokes! Seriously, this dude is coming for it, and Alex Smalley isn't letting up either, closing out his round to set the clubhouse lead at 4-under-par 136. It's a full-on battle out there!

Gotterup's Bomb That Blew Up the Leaderboard

Can we talk about Chris Gotterup for a second? The guy is an absolute beast! His 5-under 65 wasn't just good, it was the best round of the entire tournament, clearing the next best score by two whole strokes. This isn't some rookie fluke, either. This Jersey native burst onto the scene last year with a Scottish Open title and a third-place finish at the Open Championship, plus two more PGA Tour wins this winter! Talk about momentum. He closed his round with birdies on holes 7, 8, and 9 to absolutely surge up that leaderboard. He even mentioned the tough putting conditions, saying he "felt like I just was in a good spot for some of those putts," including a nice 25-footer on 11. This guy is dialed in, no doubt.

Smalley Fights, Matsuyama Stays Smooth

While Gotterup was tearing it up, Alex Smalley fought his way to that clubhouse lead, sitting at 4-under-par 136. He was one of seven co-leaders after the first 18 holes, and he signed for a 1-under 69. Smalley started at 3-under and was the first to hit 5-under, but it was a rollercoaster. He played the tougher back nine in 2-under, then bogeyed Nos. 1, 2, and 3, before bouncing back with a birdie at No. 4 and a sweet pitch to 14 inches on the par-5 ninth. He's tied with South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter and Australia's Min Woo Lee. And don't sleep on Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champ, who's eyeing his second major after a consistent day with four birdies and one bogey. He even had a wind-assisted birdie on No. 7, which he called his favorite! Germany's Stephan Jaeger, Japan's Ryo Hisatsune, and Australia's Jason Day (who birdied his first two holes) are all right there in the mix.

Pace Problems and Scheffler's Slip

Even World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler got caught in the Aronimink grind. He wrapped up a 1-over round of 71 in over five and a half hours! The sluggish pace of play was a huge topic of discussion. Scheffler dropped to 2-under, joining Cameron Young (67) and Justin Thomas (69), two shots back. Other big names like Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, and Bryson DeChambeau still had afternoon tee times. So, what does this all mean? The PGA Championship is absolutely heating up! Chris Gotterup is proving he's the real deal, Smalley is grinding, and that leaderboard is packed. Everyone's going to be glued to the next rounds to see if Gotterup keeps the magic going or if a big name makes a charge. This is a major championship, folks, and every shot matters! Let's GOOOOO!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.