Extend Right Knee for Extra Rotation: Power Drive Secrets from Long Hitter Gottrup

Chris Gottrup is off to a scorching start on the PGA Tour this season. After winning the season-opening Sony Open, he claimed his second victory at the Phoenix Open, the fourth event of the year. Just two years after his 2024 PGA Tour debut, the American has transformed from "rising star" to a "new force" threatening world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Gottrup's signature weapon is his prodigious driving distance. Standing 183cm tall and weighing 95kg, he averages 323.9 yards off the tee this season, ranking fifth on Tour. That's 17.5 yards beyond the Tour average of 306.4 yards. His average clubhead speed reaches 124.12 mph, and he can easily exceed 130 mph when needed. His strokes gained off the tee stands at 0.863, ranking fifth in that category—equivalent to gaining approximately 4.5 strokes per tournament through driving alone.

One secret to Gottrup's powerful drives is his expansive backswing. In photos from his second round at the Phoenix Open's sixth hole in February, his fully extended right knee catches the eye.

Coach Lee Si-woo, who trains prominent players including Lydia Ko and Park Hyun-kyung, analyzed the technique: "It's a movement designed to enlarge the swing arc. If you keep your right knee bent at the same angle as your address position, your rotation becomes restricted. Extending the knee creates room to turn your hips and shoulders further. By pulling your right hip back while shifting weight onto your right heel, you can maximize both arc size and power accumulation."

Another key to Gottrup's power generation is maximizing his X-factor—the separation angle between upper and lower body. Just before completing his backswing, he rotates his hips and right foot toward the target first, maximizing the differential between upper and lower body. This movement causes his right leg to begin bending again at the top position.

"Amateur golfers who move their knees excessively trying to enlarge their backswing risk swaying their swing axis," Coach Lee advised. "Simply swinging with your head stable and knees relaxed rather than rigidly locked can increase both distance and accuracy."