Ben Kohles came up agonizingly short of securing his maiden PGA Tour title at TPC Deere Run.

Kohles insisted his maiden PGA Tour victory is just around the corner despite a dramatic late collapse at the John Deere Classic.

The American was in control of his own destiny as he came down the stretch at TPC Deere Run.

Kohles, 36, was in a share of the lead and it looked as though he was headed for extra holes with Chris Gotterup after his compatriot raced to the top of the leaderboard with a scintillating nine-under 62.

But Kohles hit his approach on the par-four 18th into the water and couldn’t save par, handing Gotterup his fifth PGA Tour title.

Making maters worse for Kohles, he then missed a three-footer for bogey that cost him $318,000 in prize money.

Kohles, who won on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour last month, has now made 120 PGA Tour starts without a victory.

Despite the near miss, he was praised by golf fans for speaking openly and honestly with reporters. (video below)

“It is what it is,” Kohles said. “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 it wasn’t quite my time yet out here, but I know that day is going to come.”

He added: “Honestly, I felt really good. Of course I was feeling a little extra nerves coming down the stretch, but yeah, I knew I just needed to play solid and obviously not have that happen on 18, and it would have been fine.”

Kohles said he was a little in between clubs on the 18th. His approach started on line, but veered left and found a watery grave.

“I was just trying to hit kind of a three-quarter punch shot,” he said. “Yeah, just tugged it a little, and obviously ended up in the water.

“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.

“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.”

Kohles has split his time between the PGA and Korn Ferry Tour this season.

His victory at the BMW Charity Pro-Am last month came with the benefit of essentially locking up his playing rights on the developmental circuit next season.

A win at the John Deere Classic would’ve seen him clinch a spot in this year’s FedEx Cup playoffs.

It is the second time he has recorded a bogey or worse on his final hole to lose a PGA Tour event.

Kohles let the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson slip through his hands.

Still, he believes last Sunday was the best he felt in contention.

“[I am] just going to keep building from that and use it to go forward,” he said.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

⛳️😔💔 #HEARTBREAK — Ben Kohles addressed the media after a crushing defeat

“Golf is a tough game… obviously was able to get it done a month ago on the Korn Ferry and it wasn’t quite my time yet out here, but I know that day is going to come.” pic.twitter.com/Dh4MF501dz

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 6, 2026

Disaster strikes on the 72nd hole.

Co-leader Ben Kohles approach shot finds the water @JDClassic.

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/45XGB8PXYK

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 5, 2026

Article originally appeared on: Golfmagic.com