Chris Gotterup won the WM Phoenix Open this weekend after beating Hideki Matsuyama in a one hole playoff. Gotterup has picked up two wins in just three starts this season. 

Why it Matters: Gotterup was part of a larger group of exceptional young pros at the Phoenix Open. Among the top-10 finishers, six were 26-years-old or younger. Of course, with the inexperience at the top of the field, there were some incredible scoring swings. Michael Thorbjornsen built a one-shot lead after making an eagle on 15 before subsequently giving it away with bogeys on 16 and 17. Nicolai Hojgaard shook off an early triple-bogey to finish with four birdies and an eagle to shoot -6 in his final 16 holes (and -3 on the day). And Scottie Scheffler made a surprise end-run on the tournament, pouring in seven birdies for a final round 64, narrowly missing the playoff by just one stroke. It was an electric finish and a sign of good things to come for a number of young pros.

Hit the Sweet Spot: Gotterup's hot start to the season may be a sign of things to come for the tour as this subset of mid-20s golfers try to establish themselves. The greatest challenge for Gotterup and those in his class is still to come. While it's impressive to see these new names consistently hang around the top of the leaderboard early in the season, the true test will come when the signature event season starts next weekend at Pebble Beach.

Hot take that I'm starting to believe: Chris Gotterup will finish in the top-5 at the Masters this year. 

A Trend to Watch: An underlooked storyline from this weekend amid all the scoreboard swings was the apparent increase in speed and driving distance from Scottie Scheffler. This season, Scheffler has averaged 323.2 yards off the tee, ranking him 9th on tour. Last season, he averaged 308.3 yards per drive, placing him 44th among PGA Tour pros. Scheffler has appeared in just two events this season -- one of which was played in desert air -- so these stats should be taken with a grain of salt, but it's an interesting development to track. Scheffler was already dominant last year -- now imagine him hitting those same incredible iron shots from 15 yards closer. That sounds like a terrifying development for anyone else on the PGA Tour. 

This weekend, James Nicholas picked up his first career Korn Ferry Tour win, and he did it in dramatic fashion. Standing on the par 5 18th tee, Nicholas was tied for the lead. After reaching the green in two, Nicholas poured in a  13-foot putt for an eagle and a two shot victory. What a way to get your first victory on tour. 

Nicholas' name may sound familiar as he captivated audiences last season with his emotional post-round interview after qualifying for the US Open. He was similarly sentimental after his first career win, crediting his late-grandmother for carrying him through the final hole. 

"[My grandma] would always get super excited when I would make eagles. Now every time I make an eagle I just look up and think about her. To make eagle on my last hole in my first win... she was with me for sure."