Richard Johnson birdied three of his last four holes to shoot a six-under 64 on Sunday and win the US Bank Championship for his first US PGA Tour victory.
Johnson finished at 16-under 264 on the 6,759-yard Brown Deer Park Golf Course. He is the sixth golfer from Sweden to win on the American tour and seventh first-time winner this year.
Johnson, the first round leader after shooting a 63, sank a birdie putt of about 12 feet on the par-four 17th hole to break a tie with Ken Duke at 14-under. He then birdied the par-five 18th from less than 2 feet.
He needed that final birdie to win because Duke, playing in his threesome, also birdied the last hole.
Duke shot 65 to finish second at 15-under.
Dean Wilson (65), Chad Campbell (65) and Chris Riley (66) tied for third at 13-under.
Kenny Perry closed with a 64 to get to 12-under and finish tied for sixth with three other golfers.
Perry had been criticized for skipping The Open to play here after winning three of his last five tournaments in the US, including last week’s John Deere Classic. He chose to play in Milwaukee because he felt he had the best chance of picking up points so he could make this year’s Ryder Cup team. The event is being held in his native Kentucky.
Perry felt his finish vindicated that decision.
“I accomplished my goal,” Perry said. “I wanted to top 10 it. I told my people, I told my friends. I said, ‘If I can just go there and have a good top 10, I’ve accomplished my mission.’”
Johnson started the day at 10-under, a shot back of third-round leaders Gavin Coles and Nick Flanagan. Like fellow countryman Greg Norman at The Open, they failed to follow up their third-round lead with a victory. Coles and Flanagan each shot even-par 70 and tied for 11th place.
Johnson, who had to go through qualifying school last fall to get his tour card, had only made the cut in three of 10 events this season. He had not finished in the top 25 of any event until he won this one.
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