Steve Stricker joins hat-trick club

Steve Stricker sank a 25-foot putt from the fringe of the 18th green to win the John Deere Classic for the third straight year.

The putt capped a roller coaster afternoon for Stricker, who led by five strokes at the turn, fell behind rookie Kyle Stanley by two shots on the back nine, then birdied the final two holes to close with a two-under-par 69.

Stricker became just the 10th golfer since the Second World War to win a PGA tournament three straight times. He finished at 22-under 262 to beat Stanley by one stroke. Matt McQuillan, who had missed the cut in his previous 10 tournaments, shot a 64 to finish equal third with Zach Johnson (65) at 17 under.

With the victory, Stricker joined a select group who have won a tournament three years running. The list includes Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Hogan and Johnny Miller. Woods has done it six times and Palmer twice. Woods is also one of four golfers who has won a tournament four years running.