SILVIS, Ill. -- Jordan Spieth made it a lot tougher on himself than it needed to be.
In the end, Spieth got exactly what he was looking for from the John Deere Classic -- a victory and some positive energy ahead of the British Open.
Spieth beat Tom Gillis on the second hole of a playoff to win at TPC Deere Run on Sunday for his fourth victory of the season.
Spieth, who opened the tournament with an even-par 71, finished the final round at 20-under 264, as did Gillis, who shot 7-under 64 to rise to the top of the leaderboard. Zach Johnson and Danny Lee tied for third at 19 under.
"To be able to shoot 20-under in three rounds is nice momentum," Spieth said. "The finish, when I really didn't feel like tee to green I had much (Sunday), gives me a lot of momentum to draw on if I don't have my best stuff. "
Gillis, 46, who was attempting to become the oldest first-time winner on the PGA Tour in 20 years, sent an approach into the water on the second playoff hole. Spieth made par for his second victory at this tournament in three years.
Now Spieth heads to the British Open in search of his third consecutive major championship.
Spieth is the first golfer to win four times before the Open Championship since Tiger Woods in 2000 -- and he silenced many of the critics who questioned why he played this tournament instead of heading overseas early to prepare for St. Andrews.
"I came here for a reason, and we accomplished that reason," Spieth said.
Spieth entered the final round with a two-shot lead after shooting a career-best 10 under on Saturday.
But the field caught up to Spieth when he turned in a pedestrian front nine.
Spieth bogeyed two of his first three holes and was soon passed by the likes of Gillis and Johnson. Spieth was even at the turn and two shots back of Gillis, who in 171 previous PGA Tour starts had only finished in the top three twice.
Spieth's low point was a bogey on the par-4 11th hole after a putt from the fringe went left.
But Gillis played his final six holes at even par. Spieth roared back into contention with four birdies in five holes, including a 21-foot chip from the fringe on the par-3 16th hole.
Spieth had a 30-foot putt to win on No. 18, but he pushed it left. He nearly won on the first playoff hole, but his 33-foot try lipped out.
Even though Spieth, the second-ranked player in the world, ultimately outlasted the field, he knows he has some work to do -- specifically with his driver, which abandoned him at times this weekend -- if he hopes to make it three majors in a row.
"I need to fine tune my driver," Spieth said. "I love where my putter is at. My pace control, my speed is awesome right now."
Gillis matched Spieth with a par on the first hole in sudden death. But a tee shot that went into the rough led to a shot in the water, effectively ending his bid for an elusive victory.
"When you're going to be 47, the window is closing," Gillis said. "What I saw today [Sunday] and the last three days, I'd have to say makes me think I've still got some tread on the tires left."
Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a 3 under Sunday to finish at 10 under and in a tie for 28th place to win $30,584.
Glen Day (Little Rock) had a 2-over 73 and finished in a tie for 65th. His 2-under finish earned him $9,823.
Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had a 1-under 70 and finished 1 under for the tournament for $9,635.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Fowler overtakes Kuchar
GULLANE, Scotland -- Rickie Fowler birdied three of his last four holes to overhaul fellow American Matt Kuchar and win the Scottish Open by one shot on Sunday for his second victory of the year.
Kuchar was on the practice range, preparing for a playoff, when Fowler sent his approach on No. 18 to within 18 inches. He tapped in the putt for a 2-under 68 -- the same score as Kuchar -- and an overall 12-under 268.
It is the fourth title of Fowler's professional career, and the second outside the United States after the Korea Open in 2011. He won The Players Championship in May.
Raphael Jacquelin of France birdied the last hole for 70 to tie for second place with Kuchar, and claim one of three British Open places on offer.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Smith wins first
GLENVIEW, Ill. -- Jerry Smith shot a 2-under 70 on Sunday to win the Encompass Championship for his first title on the Champions Tour.
Smith had a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the 54-hole tournament, but the margin was down to one over David Frost when he reached the 579-yard, par-5 16th hole. The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native hit his second shot left into a greenside bunker, but holed out for a crucial eagle with two holes to play.
Smith finished at 16-under 200 at North Shore Country Club, setting a tournament record. Frost had a 68 in the final round and was three strokes back in second.
WEB.COM
Piller cruises in Idaho
BOISE, Idaho -- Martin Piller completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Albertsons Boise Open for his fourth Web.com Tour title.
Piller shot a 4-under 67 at Hillcrest Country Club for a 28-under 256 total, the second-lowest 72-hole score in Web.com Tour history and the third-best mark in relation to par.
Steve Wheatcroft set the record of 255 in the 2011 Prince George's County Open, finishing at 29 under, and Daniel Chopra was 30 under on a par-72 course in the 2004 Henrico County Open.
Piller broke the tournament mark of 24-under 260 set last year by playoff winner Wheatcroft and Steven Alker. The 29-year-old Dallas player won by six strokes to tie the event record set by Tim Clark in 2000 and matched by Roger Tambellini in 2003.
Piller earned $144,000 to jump from 52nd to fourth on the money list with $198,852, enough to earn a PGA Tour card next season. His wife, Gerina Piller, is an LPGA Tour player.
Zack Fischer (Little Rock) won $20,000 for his 17-under and ninth-place finish, while Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) was a stroke behind that to earn $12,018 for a tie for 14th.
Sports on 07/13/2015