Playoff push gives Perry PGA win

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 13, 2008

SILVIS, Ill. — Kenny Perry beat Brad Adamonis and Jay Williamson in a playoff to win the John Deere Classic and escape with his third victory in five starts after bogeying the 18th hole on Sunday.

Perry had a one-stroke lead at 17-under through 17 only to lose it thanks to some poor shots from the fringe on the final hole of regulation. He and Williamson then watched as Adamonis, the PGA Tour’s oldest rookie at 35, missed an 18-foot putt for birdie that would have won it in regulation and given him his first victory.

The ball stopped three feet short and Adamonis was at 16-under 268 with the others.

While Adamonis and Williamson both hit approach shots into the pond on No. 18, Perry tapped in from 1 feet, 4 inches for par and the victory after his 24-footer stopped just short.

He picked the ball out of the cup and raised both arms, an ear-to-ear grin crossing his face.

He has reason to smile.

He’s enjoying the best stretch of his career and collected $756,000 with his 12th victory. Perry (1-under 70), Adamonis (70) and Williamson (69) were one stroke ahead of Charlie Wi (69), Will MacKenzie (70) and Eric Axley (69) after 72 holes.

Williamson earned an invitation to the British Open and, unlike Perry, accepted it.

Zach Johnson (71) finished at 1-under 283 for the tournament, another disappointing showing at what he considers his home event.

“I’m going to keep fighting,” said Johnson, who’s grew up just over an hour away in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He’ll take that fight to Royal Birkdale, where he hopes to boost his chances for the U.S. Ryder Cup team with a strong showing at the British Open.

“I play hard, I play good, things will take care of themselves,” he said.