SILVIS, Ill. — Chris Gotterup made up a five-shot deficit Sunday by closing with a 9-under 62 to win the John Deere Classic for his fourth PGA Tour title in the last 12 months.
Gotterup avoided a playoff when Ben Kohles, trying to win for the first time in his 120th start, hit his approach to the 18th left and into the water and wound up with a double bogey.
Gotterup next week defends his title in the Scottish Open, where he began his remarkable run to reach the top 10 in the world. He held off Rory McIlroy a year ago in Scotland, and then won the Sony Open and the Phoenix Open this year.
This might have been as enjoyable as the others. His brother, Patrick, caddied for him at the TPC Deere Run and Gotterup was in tears on the practice range when he became the winner.
Gotterup received a sponsor exemption to the John Deere Classic in 2022, after he finished his college career at Oklahoma. He remained loyal to the tournament, even playing despite having a title to defend across the Atlantic and the British Open the following week.
“I really like this tournament. They’ve been super nice to me,” Gotterup said. “To have Patrick out here with me ... it’s just so awesome.”
He finished at 20-under 264 and moved to No. 7 in the world.
It was a devastating finish for Kohles (68), who two years ago made bogey on the final hole of the Byron Nelson and lost in a playoff.
He birdied the 16th to join Gotterup at 20-under par and missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th. Kohles belted his drive on the 18th down the middle, but he got over the shot quickly and tugged it left, bounding off the hill into the water.
He was able to take a penalty drop by the green, then caught a big break when his stance was on a sprinkler head, allowing him to drop on the fringe and use putter. But the par putt to force extra holes was wide right the entire way, settling just inside 3 feet away.
He finished at 20-under 264 and moved to No. 7 in the world.
It was a devastating finish for Kohles (68), who two years ago made bogey on the final hole of the Byron Nelson and lost in a playoff.
He birdied the 16th to join Gotterup at 20-under par and missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th. Kohles belted his drive on the 18th down the middle, but he got over the shot quickly and tugged it left, bounding off the hill into the water.
He was able to take a penalty drop by the green, then caught a big break when his stance was on a sprinkler head, allowing him to drop on the fringe and use putter. But the par putt to force extra holes was wide right the entire way, settling just inside 3 feet away.
Zach Johnson, the 50-year-old former champion who skipped the U.S. Senior Open this week to play in what he considers a hometown event, shot 68 to tie for ninth.
Blades Brown, the 19-year-old who turned pro while still in high school, closed with a 68 and tied for 12th as he tries to work his way toward a PGA Tour card. Another shot back was NCAA champion Preston Stout, who shot 69 and tied for 15th.
