Gotterup's Fifth Tour Victory
Chris Gotterup Captures Fifth PGA Tour Title at John Deere Classic with Dramatic Final-Round 62
Key Points
Kohles eagled the second hole and was 5-under through the first eight holes on Sunday as he briefly contended before the late finish.
Max Homa shot a final-round 64 with eight birdies to finish solo second at 19-under.
The winner's prize money for Gotterup was $1.584 million.
Zach Johnson, an Iowa native and former U.S. Ryder Cup captain, was among the notable contenders in the field.
Gotterup expressed his emotion after the finish, saying, 'It felt great. I'd have paid a lot of money for that finish,' highlighting the dramatic culmination of the week.
Chris Gotterup stormed back from five shots down to win the 2026 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, firing a bogey-free 9-under 62 in the final round to finish at 20-under par. CBS Sports reported it was his third win of the season and fifth PGA Tour title overall — a stunning surge that ended with a double-bogey collapse by leader Ben Kohles on the 18th hole.
The victory earned Gotterup $1.584 million and 500 FedEx Cup points, according to Golf Magic. Max Homa finished solo second at 19-under after shooting a final-round 64 with eight birdies. Lucas Glover and Lee Hodges tied for third at 18-under.
Gotterup's 62 Was the Week's Best Round
Gotterup played one of the cleanest rounds of the week. He made nine birdies and zero bogeys. His 62 was the lowest score any player posted all week at TPC Deere Run. CBS Sports gave him high marks for the closing performance, calling it a stellar final round that put the result out of reach early.
Gotterup was emotional after the round. 'It felt great. I'd have paid a lot of money for that finish,' he said. His brother Patrick caddied for him, adding a personal touch to an already memorable win. The John Deere title adds to a season that already includes a win at the WM Phoenix Open.
Kohles Eagle Gave Him the Lead, Then It All Fell Apart
Ben Kohles looked dangerous early on Sunday. He eagled the second hole and was 5-under through his first eight holes. That fast start briefly put him at the top of the leaderboard. Head Topics reported that Kohles held a share of the lead deep into the final round.
But Kohles couldn't hold on. He found water and then made a costly double-bogey on the 18th hole. That mistake handed the title to Gotterup. V2 Radio noted the finish was a dramatic swing — Kohles went from co-leader to runner-up in a matter of minutes.
Homa's Eight-Birdie Round Wasn't Enough
Max Homa put together a strong Sunday of his own. He shot a 64 with eight birdies to reach 19-under. That was good enough for solo second — but Gotterup's 62 was simply better. Homa earned $959,200 for his runner-up finish, according to Golf Magic.
Glover and Hodges each finished at 18-under to tie for third. Iowa native and former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson was also in the field, drawing local interest at a tournament played in his home state.
Gotterup's Equipment Helped Him Attack the Course
Golf Digest broke down the clubs Gotterup used to win. He relied on a driver with a low-spin design — built for players with fast swing speeds who want to keep ball speed high without adding height or extra spin. The club features a carbon-composite piece that wraps around the head for added stability.
The equipment choice matched his aggressive style. Gotterup attacked pins all day and never made a bogey. With three wins in 2026, he is now one of the hottest players on tour heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs stretch.
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