PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — New Jersey is under a lot of unnecessary attacks. I say this as someone who was born there, grew up there, and still lives there. But it’s true. And that often comes from people who have never set foot in the Garden State. I’m sure people in California will empathize with this.
If the haters actually came around, you’d find that America has some of the best beaches, some of the quaint, cleanest, yes, clean! small towns, and some of the best pizza and bagels and diners in America. Oh, and a great golf course. Much more. Check the tape.
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can’t believe it? Well, you don’t have to take my word for it. Just ask fellow New Jersey native Max Glaserman. He shot a 5-under 66 at the Genesis Invitational on Friday and was tied for fifth place at 8 under after 36 holes. Speaking of New Jersey natives, have you ever heard of a guy named Chris Gottapp? A pretty good golfer. 7th place in the world. I played four years at Rutgers and grew up Down the Shore (we call it “DTS”).
Related: Matt Fitzpatrick tried to play well as he criticized Riviera’s trickiest hole
What I’m trying to say here is that New Jerseyans are the only people who are seriously proud of their state, and the only people who smile with pride when fellow New Jerseyans succeed in their fields. But the way Glaserman spoke when asked about Gotterup on Friday, and the way he used the opportunity to uplift Jersey golf, proved that we continue to lead the league in defending our state’s honor.
“We felt like we’d known each other for a while,” Glaserman said of Gotterup, who is four years older. “I think there are probably only two New Jersey players here.
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“He went to Rutgers. Both of my parents started at Rutgers and my brother-in-law went to Rutgers. Basically most of my family went to Rutgers, so I’m always rooting for him and always rooting for the people of New Jersey. Even though this may be the best state for golf in the country, there aren’t a lot of us here. I’m not going to say it is, but it’s definitely up there.”
There’s no debate here.
Unlike Gotterup, Glaserman has yet to win on the PGA Tour, but he has certainly come close to winning many times. He finished runner-up twice last season alone, and three times the season before that. 2026 has been nothing so far, starting the T-56/MC/MC/T-37 season for the Duke University graduate.
Riviera arrived just in time. The course reminded him a little of the courses he grew up in in the Northeast.
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“I think it’s a bunker. I think it’s more of a Northeast style golf course,” Glaserman said. “The bunker reminds me of Winged Foot. It’s very deep and under the high lip of the green. The green is similar.”
Winged Feet? In New York? Leave it at that. Perhaps Glaserman confused it with Baltusrol County, Plainfield County, or Essex County, where he won the 2014 New Jersey State Open.
Not surprisingly, Glaserman and Gotterup now live and play most of their golf in Jupiter, Fla., and “most guys from New Jersey play their golf there,” he says.
“I played with him a little bit over there,” he said. “We’re members of the same club. Yeah, I hope so. I mean, he’s won quite a bit, so I need to catch up with him.”
If he does, one thing is for sure: the people of New Jersey will let everyone know.
Related: Rory McIlroy made a valid point about the changes to this Riviera par 3.
