Chris Gotterup put together a flawless bogey-free nine-under-par final round on Sunday to earn an unexpected win at the John Deere Classic. Gotterup made up a five shot deficit to secure his fourth PGA TOUR title in the last 12 months with a final score of 20-under.
Gotterup benefitted from a disastrous final hole by Ben Kohles who was tied with Gotterup at 20-under before sending his approach into the 18th green into the water, forcing a double bogey.
“Thought if I hit a full 8, it could have a chance of going over,” Kohles said. “So I was just trying to hit kind of a three-quarter punch shot. Yeah, just tugged it a little, and obviously ended up in the water. Tough way to finish, especially how I played all day.”
Kohles could take a penalty drop greenside and had an oppurtunity at a par putt but the 36-year-old missed it right all the way. Kohles then missed a three footer back the way to tie with Max Homa in second. That missed putt cost Kohles $316,800.
Gotterup’s win was even more meaningful with his brother Patrick on the bag replacing Gotterup’s usual caddie, Brady Stockton, who was absent due to his wife giving birth last 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.”
This result for Gotterup will have him in good spirits to defend his title in the Genesis Scottish Open next week.
“I’m warm, temperature-wise and golf-wise. Then obviously to come out today and to shoot 9-under was awesome. Definitely not what I had in the cards, but I’ll take those cards dealt to me, for sure,” said Gotterup.
“This whole year has been really good, I obviously got off to a great start and was grinding it out in the middle of the year, but that’s not unexpected. I’d be lying if I said this year wasn’t a massive success,” he added.
Gotterup has now moved to no.7 in the world.
Max Homa made eight birdies on his route to post a seven-under 64 to secure solo second place, finishing just one stroke behind Gotterup at 19-under.
“I just felt like it was more mental. I kept myself upbeat and positive that it was going to get going. You can get on runs on this golf course, and I did. I did a good job of hitting some fairways. I just played solid, I guess,” said Homa.
Homa’s back nine push has moved him up to No. 49 in the FedExCup, a huge step for a former Ryder Cup player who missed the postseason a year ago and had fallen out of the top 100 in the world. This is Homa’s highest finish on the PGA TOUR in more than three years.
Lucas Glover, who led for the majority of the weekend finished T3 at 18-under alongside Lee Hodges and a disheartened Kohles.
Zach Johnson, who skipped the U.S. Senior Open this week to play in what he considers a hometown event, shot 68 to tie for ninth.
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