Brian Campbell defeated Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo in the first play-off hole to snatch a thrilling victory in what was a tightly-contested John Deere Classic.
The 32-year-old American came into the final round at TPC Deere Run a shot off overnight leader and the tournament’s defending champion Davis Thompson in a leaderboard which saw nine players separated by only three shots. But Campbell looked to take control of the final round after a run of three birdies in four holes to start off his back nine. However, he gave the chasing pack, featuring Grillo, hope when he double-bogeyed the 15th. Grillo took advantage to move to the top of the leaderboard but went on to three-putt for bogey on the following hole. Campbell hit back with a two-putt birdie at the 17th but Grillo responded with a birdie of his own as the pair went into the final hole neck-and-neck. But both Campbell and Grillo closed with a par to record final-round 67s and force a play-off.
The duo returned to the first play-off hole, the 18th, which saw Campbell overcome Grillo thanks to simple tap-in par to seal his second triumph on the PGA TOUR, following his other play-off win in February’s Mexico Open at VidantaWorld.
Victory means that he becomes the sixth multiple winner of the season so far and boosts his chances of qualifying for the 153rd Open Championship.
“I think I’m still in tournament mode,” Campbell said when processing his win. “I’m still in golf mode. But man, what an incredible day.
“I’m just so proud of myself after making that double to kind of hang in there, come back and, you know, I just told my caddy, let’s post a number and see what happens, as best we can do right now and just over the moon.”
For Grillo however, it was dissapointment, as his search for a third PGA TOUR victory continues.
“I feel like I hit some great putts,” he said. “I gave my 100%. I played really well. I think I hit every fairway today, except for that first in the play-off. Unlucky, but it is what it is. It’s golf. Sometimes you’ve got to take what you get.”
American David Lipsky had the opportunity to make it a three-way play-off as he joined the pair at the top of the leaderboard going into the 18th but his 15-foot par putt agonizingly caught the left lip and spun away as he went on to record a final-round 68 to end on 17 under. Fellow countryman Kevin Roy joined him in T3 on 17 under while there was an all American six-way tie for fifth which featured Max Homa.
What is the next event?
The next event on the PGA TOUR schedule is the Genesis Scottish Open taking place between 10-13 July at The Renaissance Club in Scotland.