Gotterup wins Phoenix Open on first playoff hole as Matsuyama limps to the finish

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chris Gotterup did his part, charging up the Phoenix Open leaderboard with a closing flourish of five birdies in six holes.

As he kept loose on the first tee at TPC Scottsdale, the 26-year-old knew he would need some help with Hideki Matsuyama still on the course with a one-shot lead.

Gotterup got what he needed with a wild tee shot by Matsuyama on 18 and took advantage when the Japanese star did it again in the playoff.

Gotterup shot 7-under 64 and won with a long birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff Sunday after Matsuyama pulled his tee shot into the water.

“You never know what to expect,” Gotterup said. “We went over to the first tee, hit a couple balls, was watching, and then all of a sudden you’re out there on 18 and everyone is going nuts and you’re like, all right, this is it.”

The leader by one heading into the final round, Matsuyama had converted all of his previous five 54-hole leads into wins, but limped to the finish.

The two-time Phoenix Open champion nearly hit his tee shot in the water left of the reachable par-4 17th, leading to a par, and pulled his drive on 18 left into the church pew bunkers — his 11th missed fairway of the day.

Matsuyama hit his second shot into the face of the bunker and couldn't get up-and-down from 43 yards to send the tournament to a playoff. He shot 68 to match Gotterup at 16-under 268.

“I wanted to avoid the playoff as much as I could, but I just hit a bad tee shot there in regulation at 18,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter.

Gotterup, winner of the season-opening Sony Open, closed with a 3-foot birdie on 18 in regulation despite hitting his tee shot near the grandstands right and he watched Matsuyama finish in between swings off the first tee.

The long-hitting Gotterup wanted to put pressure on Matsuyama in the playoff and did, uncorking a massive drive down the right side of the fairway.

Matsuyama yanked his tee shot even further left than he did in regulation, caroming it off the far bank of the lake into the water. He hit his third shot onto the green after a drop, but Gotterup left no doubt by sinking his 27-foot birdie putt for his fourth career PGA Tour win — second in three starts this season.

“I feel confident in what I’m doing and feel like I have played well enough to feel confident to be able to be in those positions,” Gotterup said. “So far, I’ve been able to capitalize on those.”

He and the rest of the field had to endure a charge from Scottie Scheffler.

The world's No. 1 player went from being in danger of the missing the cut with a shaky first round to turning heads as his name moved toward the top of the leaderboard.

The two-time Phoenix Open champion had a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine to pull within a shot, but couldn't take advantage of a massive drive on 18. He closed with a 64 to finish in a five-way tie for third at 15 under.

Matsuyama won consecutive Phoenix Opens in 2016 and 2017, rallying both times.

The Japanese star started the final round with a one-shot lead over four players with several others still in the hunt — led by Scheffler.

The world No. 1 opened the sport's rowdiest tournament with a 73, then shot 65 in the second round to extend the PGA Tour's longest active cuts streak to 66.

Scheffler was seven behind after the second round, trimmed it to five after the third and started inching up the leaderboard Sunday.

Scheffler had three birdies on the front nine and a run of three straight on the back — highlighted by a 72-foot putt from the fringe on 14 — pulled him within one of the lead. A two-putt for birdie from 63 feet on 17 to got Scheffler back within one, but he missed a 24-foot birdie putt on 18 to see his charge fall short.

“I played pretty well — only one round where I didn’t have my best stuff,” Scheffler said. “If I get in the house the first day with a couple under par it’s a little different story today.”

Gotterup ended up writing the final chapter — with some help from Matsuyama.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Chris Gotterup smiles at the 18th green after his playoff win in final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chris Gotterup, right, smiles as he gets a hug from his caddie Brady Stockton after Gotterup's playoff win at the 18th hole during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chris Gotterup, right, smiles along with caddie Brady Stockton after Gotterup's playoff win on the 18th hole during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chris Gotterup celebrates his win after sinking a birdie putt on the first playoff hole at the 18th green during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot at the second hole during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, watches his par-saving putt at the second hole during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chris Gotterup hits his tee shot at the 13th hole during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Super Bowl 60 is here, and it’s a rematch: The New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks.

The Patriots could break an NFL record with their seventh Super Bowl victory when they face the Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium.

But the Seahawks are gunning for their second Lombardi — and redemption: In 2015, the Patriots pulled a 28-24 victory over them after Malcolm Butler intercepted a Russell Wilson pass from the 1-yard line in the final minute.

The Seahawks have made a meal on opposing offenses this season, blitzing weak points in offensive lines.

Through the Patriots’ first two drives, the target has been rookie left tackle Will Campbell.

It resulted in Campbell yielding a pair of sacks and helped contribute to two Patriots’ punts.

From the first play of the Patriots’ opening drive, the Seahawks’ fan base made its presence felt. Seattle’s “12s”, as the Seahawks’ passionate fan base is known as, made all sorts of noise at Levi’s Stadium shortly after New England took over on offense.

Typically, Seahawks fans create a difficult environment for foes at Lumen Field. Today, they’ve taken over the home of one the Seahawks’ fiercest rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.

Seattle’s opening drive was aided in large part by a 23-yard, juggling reception by Kupp along the sideline. Replays showed Kupp may have been bobbling the ball as he went out of bounds, but the Seahawks rushed the next play to preempt a review.

Regardless, quarterback Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ offense showed it can move the ball against the Patriots’ defense. Darnold completed 2 of 4 passes for 38 yards, and Kenneth Walker III ran for 13 yards on three carries.

Seattle’s offense slowed in the red zone, though, and failed to capitalize on a 1st and 10 at the New England 17-yard line.

Green Day hardly sanitized its songs pre-game, but the audience didn’t hear some of its most incendiary lyrics.

The live audience — including former NFL MVPs standing on the stage — heard Billie Joe Armstrong sing “subliminal mindf--- America” during “American Idiot.” The line was made inaudible for the telecast.

The songs were all abbreviated, and Green Day didn’t perform the second verse of “American Idiot,” where Armstrong in recent years has sung “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.”

“Holiday” also ended before its bridge, where Armstrong, referring to President George W. Bush, sings “Sieg Heil to the President Gasman.”

Jason Myers caps Seattle’s opening drive with a 33-yard field goal.

Seahawks 3, Patriots 0

Seattle received the ball to start the game after New England won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half. The game opened under blue skies and 67-degree weather at Levi’s Stadium.

The opening kick went for a touchback, giving the Seahawks the ball at the 35.

There have been only two times in the past 25 Super Bowls that the team that received the opening kick scored a touchdown on that possession. The Philadelphia Eagles did it three years ago when Jalen Hurts scored on a 1-yard run in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Devin Hester also returned the opening kickoff for a score for Chicago against Indianapolis in Super Bowl 41.

The Patriots called heads and got it from Joe Montana’s coin toss. New England deferred, so Seattle gets the ball first.

Singer-songwriter Charlie Puth delivered a sweeping and soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The 34-year-old from New Jersey stood at a Rhodes electric piano as he sang and was backed by a choir and horn section.

His delivery felt slow and deliberate, but it took him 1 minute, 56 seconds to sing, which is slightly faster than average for a Super Bowl anthem.

San Francisco Bay Area punk-pop vets Green Day took the pre-game stage and performed a snippet of their song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” to a parade of former Super Bowl MVPs.

Local heroes Steve Young, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice were among those who walked out during the song meant to celebrate 60 years of Super Bowls. Bay Area native Tom Brady was also there, as was Peyton Manning.

Billie Joe Armstong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool then blasted into the harder and less sentimental stuff, including “Holiday,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and “American Idiot.”

For those who are just joining for the NFL season’s final sprint, here are the fundamentals of the game:

When a team has the ball, they will attempt to either run or throw the football down the 100-yard-long field in hopes of getting it into the end zone, thus scoring a touchdown, which is worth 6 points (a successful extra point kick after the touchdown would make it 7).

The other team will seek to stop their opponent by either tackling the player with the ball, knocking the ball to the ground or intercepting the ball.

Teams have sets of offensive and defensive players. When a team has the ball, their offensive players take the field, pushing forward and protecting the player with the ball.

The team without the ball has its defensive players take the field, attempting to stop their opponents from advancing. The team with the ball has four chances (called “downs”) to move 10 yards down the field.

If they successfully advance 10 yards, the number of downs resets. If they fail, the ball must go to the other team.

Coco Jones, a 28-year-old singer-songwriter and actor from Columbia, South Carolina, wore a white gown and was backed by a string octet as she performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song that has become known as the unofficial Black national anthem.

Written by James Weldon Johnson, the song has been performed at the Super Bowl each year since 2021, the first Super Bowl after the protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd, when Black Lives Matter sentiment, and the song, became especially prominent.

Drake Maye found time for a pregame smooch on the field with his wife, Ann Michael Maye.

The New England Patriots quarterback met his future wife in middle school, and they have been a couple for a decade, attending the University of North Carolina together. While her husband was the runner-up for NFL MVP in his second season, Ann Michael Maye became a star on social media for her baking videos.

Drake Maye was asked about his wife’s newfound fame at Super Bowl Opening Night.

“Keep being you,” he said. “You’re the better half of me and I love you. It’s such a special moment for me to follow your journey. I know you do it for something bigger than yourself and that’s what makes it special.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Sam Darnold has played through an oblique injury during each of the Seahawks’ two playoff wins.

Ahead of Wednesday’s practice, the quarterback said he still feels “really good,” just as he did before the Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC championship game.

Darnold has excelled in the playoffs, completing in two games 37 of 53 passes for 470 yards and throwing four touchdown passes with no interceptions.

In the hours leading up to kickoff at Super Bowl 60, a small airplane dragging a “12s” flag circled around Levi’s Stadium.

The Seahawks’ “12s” flag tradition pays homage to the team’s fan base, and the “12th man” has helped create a difficult environment for visiting teams at Lumen Field’s over the years. Before every Seattle home game, a giant flag raising ceremony takes place in the south end zone.

The No. 12 was the first jersey number retired by the Seahawks in 1984. It is one of only five jersey numbers retired by Seattle, alongside Kenny Easley (45), Walter Jones (71), Steve Largent (80) and Cortez Kennedy (96).

Seattle’s last trip to the Super Bowl memorably ended with Marshawn Lynch not getting the ball on the 1-yard line.

Lynch was on the sideline with a camera for Seattle’s return to the Super Bowl stage, taking pictures before the Seahawks played the New England Patriots.

Lynch was famously reticent to talk to the media as a player but has become a credentialed photographer in his retirement.

Brothers Frazier and Curt Hollingsworth came to the Super Bowl standing out in bright orange Denver Broncos jerseys. Frazier wore Von Miller’s 58 and Curt had on a No. 7 John Elway.

Frazier, a Broncos fan from Colorado, bought the tickets. He offered one to Curt, a Patriots fan — but only on the condition he wore the Elway top.

“He made me wear this ridiculous jersey,” cracked Curt, eight years younger.

Curt represented New England by sporting red and white argyle socks and a navy blue and white striped sweater under the jersey. Before the game, the siblings chose not to sit in their $3,200 seats in the southwest corner in favor of standing room behind a standing bar top on the main concourse near midfield. Frazier also attended Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium 10 years ago.

The Halftime Show Margarita will cost Super Bowl fans $23 — and $36 for a double. Jeanine Minton and her co-workers at Levi’s Stadium had sold three singles and a couple of doubles already some 2 1/2 hours ahead of kickoff.

All concessions are going for a pretty penny. A premium draft peer is running patrons $22.50 while a souvenir popcorn and soda combo is $25. Thirsty fans looking to hydrate with water can snag an Aquafina bottle for $8.

Most other snacks and drinks are a tad more affordable, though. Jack Link’s beef jerky, coffee and hot chocolate can all be purchased for $6. Perhaps the least expensive concession item in the main concourse is a bag of mixed nuts, which costs $4.

Reggaeton boomed near a popular beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday evening as hundreds of Bad Bunny fans lined up to enter an exclusive outdoor watch party after being selected via an online lottery system.

Some had never watched a Super Bowl and didn’t even know what teams were playing. All they cared about was watching Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the island’s beloved superstar.

“He has brought honor to Puerto Rico,” said Sheila Aponte, 53, of Bayamón, where Bad Bunny was born. “We Boricuas are so proud of him.”

Aponte was not lucky enough to get an invitation, but she and her partner toured the premises out of curiosity as he sipped a Medalla, the local beer.

New England’s season has a Cinderella-like feel to it, but the belief and trust that Vrabel’s players have in him is very real. They feel like they are taking the field with a guy who gets what they’ve gone through.

And that could be the thing that gets this Patriots team over the hump.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, dominated this season in a way that they expected of themselves. En route to rattling off the most regular-season wins in franchise history, Seattle nicknamed its defense the “Dark Side.”

The confidence this group exudes is abundantly clear, whether it be in practices, games or media availabilities.

For Seattle, this Super Bowl is not merely a shot at redemption for 11 years ago but a chance to separate itself as one of the best teams in franchise history.

Seattle’s offense, which ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game, is a multidimensional unit, even though it is led by the league’s leading receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has put a system in place that brings out the best in its players, both in the run and passing games.

Quarterback Sam Darnold is fresh off his second Pro Bowl season and has shown that he’s not afraid of slinging the ball downfield or even making a few mistakes.

The Seahawks’ run game is surging, too, led by running back Kenneth Walker III, who is in a contract year. He has a penchant for running outside the tackles and busting runs around the right and left sides of the offensive line.

And then there’s veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who continues to lead on and off the field in his first season with the Seahawks after eight standout ones with the Los Angeles Rams.

New England wouldn’t be here without the play of Drake Maye. But he’ll have to find a way to put points on the board against a Seattle defense that finished in the top seven in the league in sacks and interceptions.

It doesn’t seem impossible: Maye is the first quarterback in history to win three games against top-five defenses in a single playoffs — the Chargers (No. 5), Texans (No. 1) and Broncos (No. 2). The Seahawks are No. 6.

The Patriots also are in a good position because of a defense that finished the regular season ranked in the top 10 in total defense, rush defense, pass defense and points allowed.

New England’s defense has allowed just two touchdowns this postseason.

That’s helped silence voices from the outside that were critical of the Patriots’ regular-season schedule, which ranked as the easiest in the NFL, with opponents finishing with a combined 113-176 record.

New England receiver Mack Hollins is honoring coach Mike Vrabel by wearing the former linebacker’s Walsh Jesuit (OH) High School Warriors No. 84 jersey.

It’s on theme for Hollins and the Patriots this season after Vrabel arranged for a team viewing of the 1979 movie “The Warriors.” The coach has referred to his players as “Road Warriors” throughout the season, when they’ve gone 9-0 away from Massachusetts.

After an AFC championship game win at Denver, Vrabel harkened back to the movie, screaming, “Warriors! Come out to play!”

Hollins walked into the stadium that day barefoot and clanging two bottles together, repeating the line by one of the movie’s characters.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Planes fly in formation over Levi's Stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A performer balances outside Levi's Stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)