Ben Kohles Reflects on Turning His Season Around After Fixing His "Ice-Cold" Putter

Mar 6, 2026, 5:05 AM CUT

Rocket Mortgage Classic Ben Kohles of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida hits from the 4th tee during the thirsd round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club on Saturday, June 29, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-rocketmo240629_npAz2.jpg

Ben Kohles recorded a 4-under 68 in the Puerto Rico Open and marked a significant turnaround in his game. The veteran has struggled mightily the past couple of years, but is now starting to find his potential on the putting surface.

His recent turnaround comes after an extremely frustrating 2025 season, during which he had difficulty creating chances. Although his ball-striking remained steady, his results were unsatisfactory because he could not get it in the hole.

When he reflected on the change, Kohles said his "putter was just ice cold" before he received professional assistance, and he attributed regaining his touch to his new coach, Tim.

Kohles provided these reflections after the debut of his Tour season, which he contested amid challenging afternoon weather. The week started on a positive note, as he had just achieved two top-10 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour earlier this season.

September 13, 2025, Napa, California, United States: NAPA, CA - SEPTEMBER 13: Ben Kohles of the United States putts on hole 12 during the Procore Championship 2025 - Round Three at Silverado Resort on September 13, 2025 in Napa, California. Napa United States - ZUMAt139 20250913_aaa_t139_091 Copyright: xAlxChang/IsixPhotosx

The first round played at Grand Reserve had "whipping" winds, making a large portion of the pins impossible to attack. Kohles showed patience by focusing on hitting the greens and playing conservatively to avoid making big numbers on his scorecard.

Experience was the crucial factor for his success. Kohles has played this course six or seven times. This kind of knowledge and familiarity with the course allowed him to create a manageable, "pretty stress-free" day for himself.

Drawing Inspiration from Virginia's Success

Kohles was also inspired by the University of Virginia golf team that recently "lapped the field" at the same course. He even talked to the UVA coach to "keep those vibes going" for himself.

The technical work he did over the fall has solidified his confidence while on the big stage. He stated that he was, in fact, making "a lot of good progress" during the off-season, which has now turned into results.

Although his iron play was impressive, he said he "did not drive it particularly well" and planned to practice driving right away. However, since driving is usually a "big strength," he is not concerned about his long game.

Kohles is heading into the second round with his game "trending" in the right direction. If he can keep his new putting consistency, he will be in a good position to move up the board as the weekend nears.

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu