GOLF.com: The Shot That Cost Kohles at John Deere — and the Instagram Post That Followed

Lead

Ben Kohles stood co-atop the leaderboard heading into the 18th hole at TPC Deere Run on Sunday. What followed was one of golf's most brutal reminders: a hooked 8-iron from the fairway, a splash into the hazard left of the green, and a double bogey that handed the John Deere Classic to Chris Gotterup.

Caught Between Clubs

Kohles described the dilemma clearly after the round: a 9-iron was too short, a full 8-iron too long. He opted for a three-quarter punch with the 8, caught it slightly closed, and watched it curve left into the water. It was a decision made under maximum pressure — co-leading a PGA Tour event on the 72nd hole for the second time in his career.

Two years earlier at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Kohles held a one-shot lead on the final hole, only to bogey while Taylor Pendrith birdied. Despite five wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, a PGA Tour victory remains elusive.

Gotterup's Tears, Kohles's Resolve

Gotterup claimed his third win of the season and fifth on tour overall, emotional on-camera as he recalled writing a letter for a sponsor exemption to this very event four years ago. Kohles, meanwhile, answered questions with quiet dignity and turned his focus immediately to the following week's ISCO Championship in Kentucky.

Jordan Spieth had framed the moment well just days before the event: choosing professional golf means choosing to hold the ball on the final shot — with all the heartbreak and reward that entails.

The Monday Post

Kohles logged onto Instagram the next morning and posted photos from the final hole, including one capturing the exact moment his clubface closed. His caption was measured and resolute:

"You don't get to choose how the story unfolds, you only get to choose how you respond."

Strokeslab Take

From an SG: Approach perspective, the three-quarter punch is a higher-risk execution than a full swing — demanding more precise face control under already elevated pressure. Kohles's situation is a textbook case of how in-between yardages become decision-point traps in the clutch.