Ben Kohles finished tied for third at the John Deere Classic on July 5, 2026, after a double bogey on the 72nd hole cost him a chance to win or force a playoff. The collapse allowed Chris Gotterup to claim his fifth career PGA Tour title at TPC Deere Run.
The 18th Hole: A $316,800 Mistake
Kohles entered the final hole of the tournament in control of his destiny. According to Golf Channel, the 36-year-old needed a birdie to win the tournament outright or a par to force a playoff with clubhouse leader Chris Gotterup.
Kohles hit a strong drive down the fairway, but the approach shot failed. He opted for an eight-iron, hitting a three-quarter punch that drifted left, hit the edge of the green, bounced off a retaining wall, and splashed into the water.
The subsequent recovery was a cascade of errors. After taking relief from a sprinkler head, Kohles faced a 45-foot putt to save par. He missed the save, handing the victory to Gotterup. The situation deteriorated further when Kohles missed a 2-foot, 8-inch comeback putt for bogey.
That specific miss had immediate financial and statistical consequences. As reported by the New York Post, the failure to secure a tie for second place with Max Homa cost Kohles $316,800 in prize money and 100 FedExCup points.
Tough way to finish, especially how I played all day. I played awesome all week. You know, obviously sucks to just have that happen on the last hole, but hey, you know, learned a lot about myself.
Ben Kohles, Professional Golfer
A Pattern of Closing Failures
This is not the first time Kohles has seen a PGA Tour victory slip away on the final hole. This event marks his 120th career start on the Tour without a win.
The collapse at the John Deere Classic mirrors a previous disappointment at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. In that instance, Kohles entered the final hole with a one-shot lead over Taylor Pendrith but lost the event after recording the only bogey of the day on the 18th.
His struggle with closing out leads extends back further. In 2023, during the U.S. Open final qualifying, Kohles held a three-shot lead before playing his final three holes at 4 over, which led to his elimination in a playoff.
Despite the trend, Kohles maintains that he is mentally prepared for a breakthrough.
“Honestly, this was the best I’ve felt out of the first two. I felt good in Dallas a couple of years ago, as well. Just going to keep building from that and use it to go forward.”
Ben Kohles, Professional Golfer
Chris Gotterup’s Path to Victory
While Kohles struggled on the final hole, Chris Gotterup demonstrated a high-risk approach to secure the win. According to Yahoo Sports, Gotterup nearly derailed his round on the par-four 11th after his tee shot landed in a penalty area.
Rather than playing conservatively, the 26-year-old attacked the green from the hazard, salvaging the hole with a birdie. This momentum helped Gotterup card a 9-under 62 on Sunday, including a 5-under 30 on the front nine.
Gotterup’s relationship with TPC Deere Run is deeply rooted in his career trajectory:
Stakes for the 2027 Season and Tour Restructuring
The results of the John Deere Classic have significant implications for Kohles’ standing on the Tour. A victory would have guaranteed him a spot in this year’s FedExCup Playoffs. Instead, he moves to No. 100 in the FedExCup race.
Kohles is currently fighting for full status for next season, as the top 100 players following the FedExCup Fall retain their cards. He has already secured his 2027 PGA Tour card via the developmental tour after winning the BMW Charity Pro-Am last month, where he earned his fifth career Korn Ferry Tour title.
The event also highlighted tensions regarding the PGA Tour’s proposed two-tier system set for 2028. This plan would split the Tour into a “Championship Series” and a “Challenger Series.”
Gotterup expressed concern that the John Deere Classic might be relegated to the Challenger Series, which could prevent top-tier players from competing in the event.
“I think it’s something that we have no say over for the most part. There’s no reason to say that the John Deere Classic can’t become, you know, if they want to pony up and be a signature event, then they will probably do that. And then the question doesn’t exist.”
Chris Gotterup, Professional Golfer
Kohles now heads into his 10th straight week of competition, competing in next week’s Isco Championship.
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