JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 5, 2026

Ben Kohles

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. I know this is gut-wrenching right now, but what was going through your mind? Take us through the last approach shot on 18.

BEN KOHLES: Yeah, just I was kind of a little in between. I mean, I didn't want to -- I hit an 8-iron and thought 9 was going to be too shot and thought if I hit, you know, a full 8, it could have a chance of going over. 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.

Yeah, tough way to finish, especially how I played all day. Even on the back nine, letting a few holes get away, but bounced right back and made birdies right after.

Yeah, I mean, I'm proud of the way I played. I played awesome all week. You know, obviously sucks to just have that happen on the last hole, but hey, you know, learned a lot about myself. Me and my caddie are doing such a good job, and it's only going to make me better going forward.

You know, still not done yet. Going ten in a row playing next week at ISCO, so hopefully I can keep the momentum rolling and try to get it done next week.

Q. I know there was a lot of pressure, too. Chris Gotterup was really putting his foot on the gas. How much did you feel that? How much did the nerves kind of settle in maybe the last few holes?

BEN KOHLES: Yeah, honestly I felt really good. Yeah, of course, feeling a little extra nerves coming down the stretch, but yeah, I knew I just need to do play solid and obviously not have that happen on 18, and it would have been fine.

It is what it is. Golf is a tough game. I've just got to keep putting myself in these positions. Obviously was able to get it done a month ago on the Korn Ferry and wasn't quite my time yet out here, but I know that day is going to come.

Q. From 5-under on the front to just up-and-down on the back, was there anything? Was it the swing? Was it the mentality? What caused that difference?

BEN KOHLES: No, nothing really. Really had kind of a really first short miss of the week on 11 when I three-putted. You know, really just misread the first one.

Yeah, I mean, did everything pretty right other than, yeah, I mean, the bogey on 14. Just pulled the tee shot barely. Obviously was just a tough hanging lie. Would have liked obviously to have that one stay on the green.

Like I said, some chip shots. I really didn't chip very much all week, so it's kind of one of those things on 15 you're trying to judge the lie and thought I hit it pretty good. Just needed a little more energy to get it rolling down that hill.

Yeah, I'm proud of the way I played and going to try to keep it rolling.

Q. This last month is just grind-it-out golf. You said it, you're still going next week. How do you kind of recover mentally, physically, all the works from today?

BEN KOHLES: Yeah, just take some rest, you know, Monday, Tuesday, not do a whole lot. Maybe play nine on Tuesday late. I'll play on Wednesday and in the pro-am and get it right back going.

I've just been doing a good job of prioritizing my rest. Obviously this many weeks in a row, that's what you got to do.

Q. Were you scoreboard watching at all today?

BEN KOHLES: No, not really.

Q. Is that normal? Is that a normal approach for you?

BEN KOHLES: Yeah, it's kind of normal. I don't look too much. My caddie knows what's going on, so I trust him to if he needs to say something, he'll say something. It's one of these weeks, guys were making birdies, so you got to keep your foot on the gas the whole time.

Q. How do you feel handled the emotions of being in a final group on Sunday afternoon?

BEN KOHLES: Yeah, I mean, this was my third final group on Sunday on the PGA TOUR. Honestly, this was the best I've felt out of the first two. I felt good in Dallas a couple of years ago, as well. Just going to keep building from that and use it to go forward.