Stricker wins John Deere Classic

CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Steve Stricker won the John Deere Classic at Silvis, Illinois, on Sunday finishing three shots clear of his nearest rivals on 20-under-par after a gruelling 36-hole final day.

Compatriot Brett Quigley has the chance to play at the British Open after finishing tied for second place with Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker - who like Stricker already have places booked at Turnberry.

American Tim Petrovic had gone into the final hole two shots behind playing partner Stricker, but he found water on his second shot and ended with a disappointing double bogey which dropped him into a tie for fifth.

Stricker's victory was his second of the season following May's triumph at the Colonial Invitational.

The players had to play the third and fourth round successively after Friday's play was washed out by heavy rain.

Stricker made a three-under 68 in his third round and was bogey free in his final round, eagling the par four sixth with a superb approach shot from 98 yards before he ended with a seven under-par 64.

He had a stroke of luck on the 17th when an aggressive putt, which could easily have raced past the hole, came out off the lip for a simple tap-in.

That allowed him a birdie which gave him a two-stroke cushion over Petrovic going into the final hole even before his compatriot self-destructed.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)