The American carded a bogey-free 63 around TPC Scottsdale, enough to get him to eight under, two strokes ahead of the chasing Fitzpatrick.
Gotterup’s putter was red hot. He got going when he rolled in a 27-foot eagle putt from just off the green on the par-5 13th hole. At the par-3 16th stadium hole, he drained a 7-footer for his third straight birdie and added another on 18 to make the turn in six under 30.
He took advantage of the par-5 third to two-putt for a birdie and added a 26-footer on the long par-3 seventh for a sizzing 63.
“I feel like I’m doing things well and thinking through things well, and I think that’s the most important thing,” Gotterup said afterwards.
“I wouldn’t say today I drove it my best or did anything, (but) I putted great.”
Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick endured a tumultuous round. Starting on the tenth, he reeled off seven birdies to tie the back-nine record, but would close with two bogeys on the front-nine.
“If someone would’ve said here is 6 under to start day and I can stay in bed, I would’ve snatched your hand off,” quipped the Englishman.
“I’m in a good position to start with and hopefully kick on.”
