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Johnson Wagner offers bold prediction for Chris Gotterup following WM Phoenix Open victory

Originally posted on HITC | By Guadalupe Carniel | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 1:21 PM ET

Chris Gotterup has been in brilliant form to start the 2026 PGA Tour season, picking up two wins and a T-18 finish in his first three events.

Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, has a win and a third-place finish from his two starts, putting him second behind Gotterup in the early FedEx Cup standings.

And with good reason. Scheffler’s record over the past few years speaks for itself.

Since February 2022, Scheffler has racked up 20 PGA Tour titles, including four majors.

Scheffler wasn’t at his absolute best at the Phoenix Open but still managed to finish inside the top three. Even when not firing on all cylinders, he remains one of the toughest players to keep up with on tour.

Chris Gotterup makes his mark with Johnson Wagner prediction

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Gotterup has also caught the attention of former PGA Tour player and current golf analyst, Johnson Wagner.

He’s now ranked fifth in the world, a remarkable rise from outside the top 200 just a year ago.

Speaking on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Wagner was asked if Gotterup could be the one to challenge Scheffler this season.

“It seems like he’s gonna be,” Wagner said.

“I mean, he’s starting to be one of the most consistent guys in professional golf.”

“And it’s fun to see him do it with his swing, too, because I would not call it the most technically sound swing.

“He’s a feel player. It seems like there’s a lot of timing involved with his swing, but he absolutely pounds it.”

Chris Gotterup’s 2026 PGA Tour Stats

Chris Gotterup has been showing plenty of balance in his game. He hits it a long way off the tee, has strong iron play, and when his putter is working, he’s tough to catch.

The stats suggest he’s pretty solid all-around, though there have been stretches where the putter goes cold.

If he can steady his putting, there’s no reason why he can’t start to make a real impact at the biggest events in coming years.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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