SILVIS, Illinois: Jordan Spieth parred the fifth playoff hole Sunday to capture the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, becoming the first teenager to win a PGA Tour event since 1931.
The 19-year-old American outlasted Canada’s David Hearn and Zach Johnson in the marathon playoff for his first career title.
“I just told myself ‘this is it and go for broke’. I am fortunate it ended the way it did,” Spieth said. “Honestly I don’t even know what to say right now.”
Spieth closed with his third consecutive six-under 65 to tie Hearn (69) and Johnson (68) at 19-under-par 265 at the Deere Run course.
Spieth, who was the American Junior Golf Association’s player of the year in 2009, birdied five of his final six holes, including a brilliant chip in from a greenside bunker at the 18th.
“The shot on 18 was the luckiest shot I ever hit in my life,” said Spieth, who earned a place in next week’s British Open.
Martin Flores fired an eight-under 63 during his final round to jump into a share of fourth place with third-round leader Daniel Summerhays (72) and Jerry Kelly (68) at 18-under.
The fifth playoff hole is where Johnson was all but eliminated after hitting his second shot into the water after all three players found the rough with their tee shots.
Spieth found the back fringe with his second shot and was able to two-putt for the victory while Hearn was unable to convert his seven-foot par putt.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve those breaks. I said my prayers, I guess,” said Spieth, who is 19 years, 11 months, 18 days old.
Johnny McDermott was the last teenager to win a PGA Tour event when he won the 1911 US Open at the age of 19 years, 10 months and 14 days.
Spieth, who played college golf at the University of Texas, earned a spot in the 2012 US Open as a replacement for Brandt Snedeker. He turned professional later that year.
He is the only golfer other than Tiger Woods to have won more than one US Junior Amateur, taking the title in 2011 and 2009.
Patrick Reed (67), Australia’s Matt Jones (68) and J.J. Henry (69) shared seventh at 17-under 267 on Sunday.
Perry tastes more major success at US Senior Open
Meantime, Kenny Perry savored his “greatest round” of golf after firing a 63 to complete a record comeback victory at the US Senior Open on Sunday and claim a second successive senior major.
The 52-year-old went from 10 shots behind pacesetter Michael Allen at the halfway mark of the tournament to a five-stroke victory in Omaha, Nebraska.
Perry, a winner of 14 PGA Tour titles including a trio of trophies at the Memorial Tournament, said the victory at Omaha Country Club was the highlight of his career.
“Today’s round was probably the greatest round I’ve ever played,” said Perry, who had a 13-under-par total of 267.
“I just was spot-on with all my irons. I putted like Ben Crenshaw. It all just came together for me. It’s just been a remarkable month. I’ve had a great run.”
Perry, who two weeks ago won the Senior Players Championship, shot a 64 in the third round and finished with a seven-under round on Sunday.
Fellow American Fred Funk, who shot a final-round 68 for eight-under-par 272, was in second place.
Another stroke back were Rocco Mediate (66) and Corey Pavin (67) on 273, with Allen a further shot behind after finishing with a two-over 72.
Perry erased the previous record for the biggest comeback after 36 holes in a senior major, which was seven strokes.
The Kentuckian also set a new standard for the lowest score over the final 36 holes of the US Senior Open at 127, three better than the old mark, and tied records for lowest 72-hole total, lowest score for the last 54 holes (200), and the lowest final-round score.
For Perry, who came agonizingly close to winning a PGA Tour major, winning a national Open was the sweetest of victories.
“It means a lot to win a national Open. For me to have that now attached to my name, (it is) the greatest win I’ve ever had,” he said.
“To lose a Masters in a playoff (2009) and lose a PGA Championship in a playoff (1996), heartbreak. All I felt was heartbreak.
“To finally get it all together and to finally have a major — two majors — attached to my name, is very sweet.”
Perry began the final round two shots behind Allen, but back-to-back birdies from the second hole set the tone for his brilliant finish.
US teen Spieth makes history on PGA Tour
