Oh, Deere: Chambleau uses birdie run for first PGA title

SILVIS, Ill. — Third-round leader Patrick Rodgers knew it would take a ton of birdies Sunday to win the John Deere Classic.

Bryson Dechambeau took that advice to heart.

Dechambeau overcame a four-stroke deficit to beat Rodgers by a stroke for his first PGA Tour title — and a spot next week in the British Open.

The 23-year-old Dechambeau birdied four of the final six holes at TPC Deere Run for a 6-under 65 and an 18-under 266 total. In 2015, the unconventional former Southern Methodist star became the fifth player to win the NCAA individual title and U.S. Amateur in the same year.

Rodgers closed with 70. Dechambeaumadea 14-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to pull even with Rodgers. Rodgers then had a par putt on No. 17 lip out, and sent his tee shot on 18 into the rough.

“He’s a great competitor, and I was kind of shocked he bogeyed 17,” Dechambeau said of Rodgers. “I thought I was going to be in a playoff.”

Wesley Bryan (64) and Rick Lamb (66) tied for third at 16 under.

■ Atowings Mills, Maryland, Scott Mccarron shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 and took advantage of an uncharacteristic crash by three-time defending champion Bernhard Langer to win the Constellation Senior Players Championship.

Mccarron finished 18 under to beat Langer (73) and Brandt Jobe (72) by one shot. The 51-year-old Mccarron made up a six-shot deficit in the final round to capture his first major on the PGA Tour Champions.

The story of the day, however, was the stunning collapse by Langer. Seeking his third major win of the year, the 59-year German had a one-shot lead before dropping his tee shot in the water on No. 17. After taking the one-shot penalty, he missed a 4-footer and made a double bogey.

Champions —

On 18, Langer lipped out a 6-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff.

■ At Irvine, Scotland, Rafa Cabrera Bello birdied the first hole of a playoff with Callum Shinkwin to win the Scottish Open.

The 405th-ranked Shinkwin left short a 4-foot par putt for victory on his 72nd hole to shoot a 4-under 68 in his final round and drop into a playoff with Cabrera Bello, who shot a course-record 8-under 64. Both were on 13 under par overall.

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At Stateline, former major league pitcher Mark Mulder won his record third straight title in the celebrity golf tournament, and NBA star Stephen Curry rallied to finish fourth.

Mulder had an 11-point victory over fellow former pitcher Derek Lowe and former tennis player Mardy Fish in the modified Stableford event at at Edgewood Tahoe. Players got 6 points for eagle, 3 for birdie, 1 for par, 0 for bogey and minus-2 for double bogey or higher.

European PGA — American Century Championship —