The Best Not Named Scheffler

This week: Masters week is here, and Jersey has a horse in the race. Chris Gotterup heads to Augusta for the first time as the 5th-ranked player in the world, Drew "Sleeze" Stoltz returned to the show to call him the best player not named Scottie Scheffler, and the Race for the Crown Elite 8 is set after Ballamor survived by five votes. Gary Woodland's emotional Houston Open win still reverberates, Tiger won't be at Augusta, and posting season is officially open.

— The DROP Podcast

#GolfingInTheGardenState

Drew "Sleeze" Stoltz, co-host of Subpar on Golf.com and a daily presence on SiriusXM golf radio joined the show for a Masters preview. His second appearance, and a very different conversation than January 2025. Back then, Drew was the media profile. This time, he's the national voice confirming what DROP listeners have been hearing since Episode 15.

No hesitation. In rapid fire, Drew named Gotterup the best player in the world not named Scottie Scheffler. He talked to Gotterup's caddie on SiriusXM the day of recording. He's watched the trajectory up close — Phoenix, Wailai, the Scottish Open — and the comp he keeps coming back to is DJ before Butch Harmon refined the edges.

Gotterup is 5th in the FedEx Cup with two wins in eight starts. He made a scouting trip to Augusta with his dad and brother, his first time on the property. Augusta has been lengthened to a record 7,565 yards this year. The course rewards bombers who putt well. That's Gotterup's exact profile. Scheffler is the +500 favorite, but Gotterup belongs in any serious contender conversation. Drew's outside-the-box pick: Jake Knapp.

Drew also addressed the Tiger situation head-on: he predicts Tiger will NOT tee it up at Augusta. That's since been confirmed, Woods withdrew and is seeking treatment at an international facility following a DUI arrest on March 27.

Which NJ player set the single-round scoring record at last week's Club Car Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour with an 11-under 61?

A) James Nicholas
B) Sam Bennett
C) John Pak
D) Ethan Ng

(Answer at the bottom)

The Race for the Crown Sweet 16 delivered. Ballamor held on by exactly five votes over Berkshire Valley, 302-297, the closest matchup of the elite eight. Meanwhile, Ballyowen put up 428 votes, the highest single-round total of any course in the bracket. The defending Year 2 champion wants back in.

Elite 8 matchups:

Chris prediction: three #1 seeds advance, with Knob Hill pulling the upset in the East. Year 4 of the bracket "Race for the Crown" following Seaview Bay (Year 1), Ballyowen (Year 2), and Somerset Hills (Year 3). Final Four 4 Voting takes place Wednesday and the Finals begin voted this Friday.

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Drew Stoltz compared Gotterup to a young Dustin Johnson. Mike and Pro have been tracking him since he was fresh off qualifying school. Woodland just won 30 months after brain surgery. Pak nearly won on the Korn Ferry Tour with a record-setting 61.

Here's the question: Which NJ player's 2026 story is most impressive so far, Gotterup's rise to world No. 5, Pak's Korn Ferry surge, or Nicholas's first tour win?

Hit “reply”, we want to hear it.

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TRIVIA ANSWER: D) 80+. The MGA runs over 80 championships and events each year across the Met area, from mid-April through the end of October. They can have up to four events running on the same day at peak season. Chris Gaffney and his team rely on a deep volunteer network to make it all happen.