Jhonattan Vegas birdies 18th to win 3M Open, end drought

Just to be in position to win another tournament on the PGA Tour took perseverance for Jhonattan Vegas.

That became part of his formula in the last round of the 3M Open.

Vegas birdied the final hole to secure his first PGA Tour victory in seven years, shooting a 1-under-par 70 on Sunday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn.

He has coped with injuries, surgeries and numerous setbacks in recent years, but his determination to win again helped guide him in the right direction.

“It was a very hard day for me today,” Vegas said. “I didn’t feel 100 percent, which is something I have been battling the past few weeks as well. It took a lot.”

The Venezuelan had an eagle putt attempt from about 96 feet on No. 18, with the ball rolling slightly past the hole before he tapped in the short birdie putt.

Vegas’ 17-under 267 was good for a one-shot edge on Max Greyserman, who was bidding to be a first-time winner on tour.

Vegas, 39, has four PGA Tour victories. This was his first since 2017, when he repeated as champion of the RBC Canadian Open.

This time, he won on a day when he realized he wasn’t sharp, though perhaps experience was on his side.

“Today, it wasn’t there,” Vegas said. “I knew it from the first hole. I stayed calm.”

Vegas, in the final group, had a long wait prior to the 18th hole and it was still slow going from there. He didn’t flinch, producing his second birdie in the last four holes.

Going to the last hole, Matt Kuchar also had a chance to end up with the trophy. His tee shot sailed off the fairway and he settled for par, finishing at 71 for 15 under for the tournament. He tied for third place with Maverick McNealy (70).

Greyserman had a bogey-free 63, including six birdies on the back nine. The last of those on the par-5 No. 18 included a second shot from amid trees off the fairway.

“I was just trying to (clear the) water,” Greyserman said of his quest to reach the green. “… Hit a great shot, kept it below the trees.”

Greyserman’s gamble paid off before his wait for Vegas to reach the final hole.

“At the end of the day, we’re all out here to win golf tournaments and get a trophy,” Greyserman said. “To me, it was worth the risk.”

The 29-year-old Greyserman, a former Duke golfer, was in his 22nd PGA Tour event and had finished in the top 10 only twice previously.

Vegas opened with a bogey on Sunday’s first hole, and that allowed Kuchar to rise into the solo lead with a birdie on No. 2.

There were no wide margins on the final day.

At one point, four golfers were atop the leaderboard listed at 15 under.

“You have to keep fighting for every single shot,” Vegas said. “It sounds kind of boring, but at the end of the day that’s kind of what’s so important in golf.”

Kuchar sought to halt a five-year victory drought.

“I hadn’t had this opportunity in a while and to be in the last group Sunday, to have the lead for a moment there was an exciting day,” Kuchar said. “Certainly wish I could have done more. I feel like (my) short game let me down a little bit.”

Canada’s Taylor Pendrith (67), who had been the second-round leader, recovered from Saturday’s 73 and finished fifth at 14 under.

Sahith Theegala (70) also had a chance on the last hole, but after hitting his second shot into the water he ended with a bogey and finished in a three-way tie for sixth at 13 under, along with Kurt Kitayama (66) and Patrick Fishburn (70).

In addition to Greyserman, the best round of the day also belonged to Cameron Champ, whose 63 allowed him to move up to a tie for 12th place at 11 under.