NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — The final minutes of the John Deere Classic brought yet another reminder how every shot matters, and how it can affect more than one player.
Ben Kohles was tied for the lead with Chris Gotterup when he hit 8-iron into the water on the 18th hole. His penalty drop, and then a free drop from a sprinkler head, gave him a 45-foot par putt from the fringe to force a playoff.
He missed wide right and it rolled out 2 feet, 8 inches away. The short bogey putt turned into a stunning miss, and Kohles took double bogey.
Instead of a two-way tie for second with Max Homa, he fell into a three-way tie for third.
It was costly for Kohles. Not only was it a difference of $318,200 in earnings, it cost him 100 FedEx Cup points. Make the putt and Kohles would be at No. 83. The miss moved him to No. 100.
But it did wonders for Homa.
The runner-up finish allowed him to move from No. 112 to No. 73 in the world ranking. Had Kohles made that short putt, Homa in a two-way tie for second would have moved to No. 84 in the world.
The British Open used this week’s ranking to fill the field. Homa was notified Monday morning that he had a spot for Royal Birkdale next week. Had Kohles made the putt, Homa would have been the fifth alternate and unlikely to get in.
