Bryson DeChambeau erased a four-stroke deficit to beat third-round leader Patrick Rodgers to win the John Deere Classic on Sunday.
DeChambeau birdied four of the final six holes at TPC Deere Run for a 6-under 65 and an 18-under 266 total to edge Rodgers by a shot and claim a spot in The Open.
The 23-year-old former SMU star, who was the fifth player to win the NCAA individual title and U.S. Amateur in the same year, was relieved to finally enter the winner’s circle on TOUR.
‘I show everybody that, “Look. There’s plenty of ways to do it.” I do it my way and I feel comfortable doing it my way,’ said DeChambeau.
Rodgers closed with 70 after his par putt on 17 lipped out before an errant tee shot on the last cost him a run at birdie.
Wesley Bryan (64) and Rick Lamb (66) tied for third at 16 under, and past tournament champions Steve Stricker (64) and Zach Johnson (67) topped the group at 15 under.
DeChambeau played the front nine in even par, then birdied six of the final nine holes to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
Rodgers, on the other hand, had four bogeys – and his approach on No. 18 sailed past the green. Rodgers nearly chipped in from 50 feet to force a playoff, missing the cup by a foot.
DeChambeau became the 10th first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season.
‘Our tendency when you have the lead is to kind of hold on and play safe and guard against making mistakes. But I had guys coming at me with some really low rounds. Obviously Bryson shot a great one,’ said Rodgers, who remained winless on the PGA TOUR.
