American Zach Johnson has ended Steve Stricker's three-year domination of the John Deere Classic, prevailing in a play-off on Sunday as Australian John Senden ended the tournament three strokes off the pace in a controversial finish.
Johnson, though, emerged victorious after a two-hole play-off against fellow American Troy Matteson, who led at the end of each round and was leading the field before a double-bogey on the 15th hole gave Johnson a chance.
Johnson, though, produced the goods when it counted, posting his second six-under 65 round of the tournament as Mattseon managed a two-under 69.
As the lead swung in a topsy-turvy final round, Johnson moved two shots clear of the field after a birdie at the 17th but Matteson refused to go away, sinking a 60-foot eagle putt to send him level with Johnson once again.
With scores level, Matteson required a birdie on the 18th to lift the trophy but his ball was picked up by a spectator.
No penalty was applied but Matteson was unable to sink the birdie needed as the match entered a play-off with the pair finishing the 72 holes on 20 under overall.
Both players made double-bogeys on the first play-off hole but Johnson hit a birdie on the par-four 18th hole to secure his second title of the season, having won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in May.
Another American in Scott Piercy claimed third place with a six-under 65, while Australia's John Senden finished in a season-best fourth position.
Senden, the 2006 champion, started the day in fifth but a four-under-par final round of 67, which included six birdies and an eagle, elevated him into fourth - his best performance of the year after previously sharing sixth at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship in March.
Stricker (70), the John Deere Classic winner in 2009, 2010 and 2011, could only manage fifth with compatriot Luke Guthrie (64).
After Senden Stuart Appleby (71) was the next best placed Australian, finishing in a share for 25th alongside Americans Dicky Pride (65), Robert Garrigus (71), and Blake Adams (67) and German Alex Cejka (67).