Latest PGA Tour winner opens up on Ryder Cup rejection: "Definitely something that motivated me"

Chris Gotterup says he holds no grudge against Keegan Bradley over his decision to leave him off the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team. 

Gotterup was discussed as a potential pick for Bradley's dozen, following a standout season highlighted by his victory at the Genesis Scottish Open, where he edged out Masters champion Rory McIlroy.

But the former PGA Championship winner elected not to take Gotterup to Bethpage Black, instead picking Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin and Cameron Young. 

Bradley's team were defeated 15-13 on home soil and he has been succeeded by former skipper Jim Furyk. 

Since then, Gotterup has won three PGA Tour events: the Sony Open in Hawaii, the WM Phoenix Open, and the John Deere Classic.

"It definitely wasn't like a I got screwed, why is this happening to me moment," Gotterup said of not being picked. 

"It was more of, all right, this was a great learning process.

"I certainly didn't have a year like this last year, until the last five or six tournaments I started playing really well. 

"It definitely was something that motivated me to play well this year."

Gotterup insisted he remains on good terms with Bradley.

"I talked to Keegan a bunch and still do," he said. "He was saying, just go out there and prove it and earn it. I felt like I did a good job of that today.

"It was a good moment more than a bad moment not making the team. 

"It would have been a home run if I did [make the team], but it was still a great process of learning and being under the gun of Ryder Cup pressure. 

"Obviously not playing in it, but all right, your name is in the mix, you have to go play well.

"It's hard to do, and I feel like I've done a much better job of that this year."

Gotterup, who has jumped up to seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking, is likely to get some experience representing his nation later this year. 

It looks like he is a shoo-in to be included in Brandt Snedeker's Presidents Cup team. 

The biennial event against the Internationals heads to Medinah in September. 

"This whole year has been really good, if you look at it in a big picture, but I obviously got off to a great start and was grinding it out in the middle of the year, but that's not unexpected," he added. 

"Obviously hopefully this kick-starts some other great stuff. I'd be lying if I said this year wasn't a massive success. 

"Hopefully I still have some tournaments left, and hopefully keep it going and running into the end of the year."

Why Gotterup didn't have his usual caddie on the bag

Gotterup's victory at the John Deere Classic was all the more poignant given his older brother Patrick was carrying the sticks. 

His regular caddie, Brady Stockton, was off-duty because his wife gave birth last week. 

"We kind of planned this out a couple of months ago," he said. 

"We were just planning on having a fun week and obviously try to come win, but to have it actually happen is cool and just a special moment that we'll never forget."