GOLF.com: Gotterup fires Sunday 62 to claim John Deere as Kohles suffers another final-hole heartbreak

Gotterup fires 62 to complete stunning comeback at John Deere Classic

Chris Gotterup capped off a remarkable Sunday charge with a 9-under 62 at TPC Deere Run, finishing at 20 under par to claim his third PGA Tour victory of the season — and fourth in the past calendar year. Starting the day five shots off the pace, Gotterup birdied five of his first nine holes and kept the momentum going on the back nine, circling holes 10, 13, 14, and 17 to post a number that proved untouchable.

The win carries deep personal meaning. In 2022, Gotterup wrote a letter to tournament director Clair Peterson requesting a sponsor invite, with no status on any tour at the time. He finished fourth, and has returned every year since. This week, he had his brother on the bag — and was in tears on the 18th green. Now ranked inside the world's top 15, he heads to Scotland next week to defend his Genesis Scottish Open title.

Kohles suffers déjà vu on the 72nd hole

For Ben Kohles, Sunday was a painful echo of 2024, when he lost the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a final-hole bogey. This time at John Deere, Kohles was tied with Gotterup through 16 holes after making birdie, then failed to birdie the par-5 17th. Standing on the 18th tee needing birdie to win or par for a playoff, he striped his drive — then pulled a three-quarter 8-iron approach into the hazard. After relief complications left him a 45-foot par putt, he missed both that and the comebacker to finish with a double bogey and a share of third.

Kohles, 36, reflected that this was his best performance of his three Sunday final-group appearances, and vowed to keep building toward his first Tour win.

Strokeslab Take

Gotterup's ability to convert scoring opportunities under pressure — particularly with SG: APP and SG: Putting both trending positive in big moments — marks him as one of the Tour's most complete closers right now. Kohles' story is a reminder that a single catastrophic SG: APP moment can undo an entire week of quality ball-striking.