Chris Gotterup reveals how Rory McIlroy reacted after Scottish Open defeat

And it appears McIlroy understood just how important the victory was for Gotterup’s future.

Speaking on 5 Clubs, Gotterup discussed what it was like trying to hold off both McIlroy and Clark, as well as how McIlroy handled things after they finished up.

“It was cool after the round. He was very nice and he said congrats. I think he realised for me it was a big moment in my career. And I think I did a good job of stepping up to the plate and didn’t back down from him, and I think he probably respected that a little bit.”

Chris Gotterup names the most enjoyable player to share a round with on the PGA Tour

Gotterup’s rise in form may have caught some off guard, but there were signs it was coming. Most of his missed cuts happened early in the year, before the first major.

During that stretch, he played with a wide range of players, moving from smaller events to bigger stages and more high-profile pairings.

So when asked who he enjoys playing with most, his answer carried some weight. He chose Wyndham Clark, who had been part of that final group in Scotland.

“It’s a good question. I don’t know. I will say last week I played three rounds with Wyndham and we had a good time out there. Our caddies are really good friends. He likes to give it to me, and I’ll give it back to him. So yeah, Lucas Glover‘s great. There’s a lot of guys who are fun to play with, I would have a hard time saying off the top of my head,” he said.

With Ryder Cup selection talk building and Keegan Bradley paying attention, Gotterup might need to start thinking more about who he’d like as future teammates.