Monday, July 14th, 2025 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition

Chris Gotterup finds ‘crazy’ golf to his liking as he wins duel in the sun with Rory McIlroy

– by Calum Crowe / MSN

Per Calum: “After shooting the lights out with a stunning round of 61 on Friday to equal the course record at The Renaissance, Chris Gotterup let it be known that he was pretty much a novice when it came to links golf…”

B&B POV: Aside from Chris Gotterup’s mother, did anyone really think he would outduel Rory and go on to win the Scottish Open? Good for him, as well as for Nicolai Højgaard and Matti Schmid, who stroked their balls well last week and earned the final three spots in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

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Our Top 10 Favorites to Win the Open Championship this Week at Royal Portrush

– by Chris Lohman / Balls & Bogeys

Per Chris: “Today kicks off one of our favorite golf fan weeks of the year. This Thursday through Sunday, 156 of the world’s finest golfers will be teeing off at Royal Portrush in the 153rd Open Championship. Wednesday night, I’ll be lying in bed in So Cal at 10:40 p.m., watching on TV as Paddy Harrington hits the first shot of the tournament in Northern Ireland at 6:40 a.m. local time. Sure, it’ll be late for me, but I wouldn’t miss watching Paddy and his foes play the first few holes at Portrush for anything…”

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What’s in the Bag (WITB): Chris Gotterup, 2025 Edition

– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: Chris Gotterup, yesterday’s Scottish Open victor, is one of the first “mostly” equipment free agents to win on tour in 2025. His only endorsement relationship we could uncover on the interwebs is one with his ball company, Bridgestone. And here’s a little nugget of insight for you: He also plays their recently launched 220 MB irons. We haven’t even seen those yet in the flesh. Now we have a reason to hunt down the model at our local Roger Dunn or PGA TOUR Superstore.

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Winners & Losers from the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open

– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: If you didn’t know Chris Gotterup before last week, you do now.

The 25-year-old thick-necked American stunned the golf world on Sunday with a career-defining victory at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open, holding off none other than Rory McIlroy down the stretch at The Renaissance Club. Ranked No. 158 in the world coming into the event, Gotterup emerged as an unlikely champion—but if you watched him play, nothing about the win felt like a fluke.

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Grace Kim wins Evian stunner with eagle-birdie-eagle finish in France

– by Beth Ann Nichols / Golfweek

Per Beth: “The first time Grace Kim played Evian Golf Club, the course brought her to tears. Two years later, the 24-year-old leaves France a major champion and author of the one of the most extraordinary finishes in major championship history.. “

B&B POV: Grace Kim waited 72 holes before she went on an Evian Championship major heater, finishing eagle-birdie-eagle. The first eagle came on the last hole in regulation, the birdie and second eagle came in a playoff with Jeeno Thitkul. What a way for Kim to finish it off in SportsCenter Top 10-level style.

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