American Zach Johnson birdied the second hole of a sudden death play-off to beat compatriot Troy Matteson and capture the PGA Tour event in Silvis, Illinois on Monday morning (AEST).
It was the second Tour title of the year for the 2007 Masters champion, who celebrated his ninth career win with hugs from his children on the 18th green before heading off to board a charter plane put on by the tournament sponsor to fly him to Britain for next week's British Open.
Australia's John Senden was briefly in contention before going on to card a four-round total of 267.
Senden shook off a double bogey at the first and thrust himself into contention with an eagle two at the par-four 14th, followed by his sixth birdie of the day at 15.
But Senden's challenge ended with bogeys at 16 and 17.
The play-off began looking as if it was a tournament neither man wanted to win, with Johnson's drive on the first play-off hole finding the fairway bunker. Matteson could do no better landing deep in the trees.
Attempting to punch out, Matteson watched his second shot skid across the fairway into the water where he was soon joined by Johnson - both eventually carding messy double-bogeys.
Back on the 18th tee, Johnson found the same fairway bunker but this time produced a brilliant second shot that rolled within two feet of the pin, leaving him a routine putt for birdie and the win.
"I think we're stating the obvious - that was really good. That was my shot of the week," Johnson said of his spectacular bunker shot, which was from the same bunker he landed in when the pair opened the play-off at 18.
"All in all, you go into a play-off and lose to a shot like that, I mean, that's an unbelievable shot," Matteson said.
"My hat's off to Zach. He drove it in the bunker twice and figured out a way to win."
Matteson with a 2-under 69 and Johnson with a bogey-free 65 finished regulation at 20-under par 264 after a roller-coaster final round.
American Scott Piercy also returned an error free 65 to finish alone in third with 18-under 266.
Johnson began the day four shots behind Matteson, who had topped the leaderboard since firing a course record equalling opening round of 10-under 61.
Matteson saw his lead trimmed to a single stroke several times over the final round but fought off all challengers until he double-bogeyed the 15th and Johnson drained birdies at 13 and 14 to replace him atop the leaderboard.
Another birdie at 17 gave Johnson a two-shot cushion stepping onto the 18th tee but Matteson was not ready to surrender.
With victory fading, Matteson cancelled out his double-bogey in dramatic fashion, rolling in a 60-foot putt for eagle at the par five 17th, the ball ringing the cup before falling into the hole to regain a share of the lead.
"I'm not disappointed at all really," Matteson said.
"I'm kind of shocked I got into a play-off because I just didn't play my best today, but kind of hung in there.
"Luckily that putt went in on 17," added Matteson, who made an aggressive stroke then watched as the ball spun around the rim and dropped to a roar from the gallery.
Three-time defending champion Steve Stricker had been well positioned to make a late charge for a fourth consecutive crown but watched his chances disappear with back-to-back bogeys at 14 and 15 to fall four shots off the pace with three to play.
Stricker hit back with a birdie at 16 but was quickly in trouble again with a bogey at the 17th to finish with a 1-under 70 and a tie for fifth.
"It was weird," Stricker said.
"I just didn't feel like something good was going to happen.
"I tried to hang in there, hit some really good iron shots, but just never really got any momentum seemed like."
While Matteson missed out on a third career US PGA Tour title, his runner-up finish was enough to gain a place in the British Open starting Thursday at Royal Lytham.
"This will be my first time over there and I think I've tried to qualify about nine times and haven't gotten in," Matteson said.
Young Tom Morris, Walter Hagan, Gene Sarazen and Tiger Woods are the only male players who have won a tournament in four consecutive years.
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted July 16, 2012 10:25:07