PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — It was shortly after 2 in the afternoon Tuesday at Royal Portrush when Chris Gotterup emerged from a walkway and appeared at the first tee.

Chris Gotterup’s Girlfriend Samantha Rae’s Three-Word Message on Golfer originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

In the moments after his Scottish Open victory, Chris Gotterup had to choke back tears. Eventually, it became clear why.

Chris Gotterup, the Fair Haven, N.J. native who captured the Scottish Open on Sunday, outlasting Rory McIlroy at the Renaissance Club, got into this British Open because of that life-changing victory.