Spieth Wins Again

Jordan Spieth continued his remarkable season. The 21-year-old from Dallas, who rose into first on Saturday thanks to his career-best round of 10-under 61, closed with a 68 Sunday to tie Tom Gillis in regulation and then beat the 46-year-old from Michigan on the second sudden-death playoff to win the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Spieth got off to a rocky start with bogeys in two of his first three holes - offset by birdies on the second and sixth - to make the turn in even-par 35. After a bogey on the 11th, the reigning Masters and U.S. Open champion rallied with four birdies on Nos. 13-17 before finishing with a par on the 18th to tie Gillis, who carded a 64, at 20-under 264.

After both players got pars on the 18th, the duo played the par-4 closing hole again. This time, Gillis, who was searching for his first Tour title, pushed his drive into the rough behind trees along the right side of the fairway. From there, he successfully punched out through the trees but his ball rolled into the water hazard guarding the left side of the green.

From the fairway and hitting second, Spieth hit the green in regulation and two-putted for the victory, his second in the event. Spieth's first career victory came at the event in 2013 when he survived a five-hole playoff.

"The memories we have here are really special," Spieth said during a brief TV interview. "It was a really, really fun day."

Now Spieth, who also won the Valspar Championship in March, heads to St. Andrews in Scotland for the Open Championship, where he'll seek to win the third leg of golf's cherished Grand Slam.

Missing out on the playoff by a stroke was the winner of last week's Greenbrier Classic, Danny Lee, who closed with a 67, and Zach Johnson (65). Johnson won the 2012 event.

Tied for fifth at 18-under 266 were Chris Stroud (63), Justin Thomas (67) and Johnson Wagner (67). Sharing eighth were Steve Wheatcroft, Will Wilcox, Kevin Chappell and Daniel Summerhays.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.

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