BLAINE, Minn. – Jhonattan Vegas won for the first time in nearly seven years, holing a 3-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 1-under 70 and a one-stroke victory over Max Greyserman at the 3M Open on Sunday.
Vegas finished at 17-under 267 at the windy TPC Twin Cities. It’s his fourth PGA Tour victory and the first for the 39-year-old Venezuelan since winning his second straight Canadian Open in 2017. He finished second at the 2021 event.
“We’re just trying to have a great week and obviously a great week turned into a win. I’m beside myself right now so it’s awesome,” Vegas said with the trophy a couple feet away.
After a wait of more than 11 minutes on the tee box of the 598-yard, par-5 final hole, Vegas hit a perfect drive. Another long delay followed and he took his 7-iron approach shot to the far left corner of the green, leaving a 96-foot putt.
Vegas, who didn’t three-putt all week, was perfectly paced on his long eagle attempt to set up his short winner.
“I didn’t think much about the length of the putt. It was just another putt, right? At the end of the day, you have to try and figure it out. I know we’ve done pretty well, those long putts I’ve been hitting pretty well,” he said.
Playing on a major medical extension after being limited to seven starts last season due to surgeries on his right elbow and shoulder, Vegas is still experiencing complications.
“I felt it (the shoulder) right away on the first hole,” he said. “It was a nightmare, but luckily I stayed calm and was able to play pretty solid and not make any big mistakes.”
The victory helped ease any pain.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he said.
Greyserman, a 29-year-old PGA Tour rookie, charged to an 8-under 63, including a 30 on the back nine that was capped by a spectacular birdie on the 18th.
After missing his drive to the left, he hit a tough 4-iron draw through a trio of trees from 260 yards. The ball landed on the green, 79 feet from the hole, and he two-putted for birdie and his lowest round of the year.
“I usually think, ‘Oh, you have to play a little bit towards the fat side of the pin, whether there are problems or not. ’ At that point in the tournament, you just have to go for it, so I just did,” Greyserman said.
Moments later, Vegas birdied the 15th hole for the fourth time this week to tie Greyserman at 16 under.
Maverick McNealy (70) and Matt Kuchar (71) finished third, two strokes behind. Kuchar was seeking his first victory since the 2019 Sony Open in Hawaii; McNealy remains winless.
“I haven’t had this opportunity in a long time and to be in the last group on Sunday and to have the lead for a moment was an exciting day. I would definitely have liked to have been able to do more,” said Kuchar.
Taylor Pendrith (67), leader after two rounds, finished fifth at 14 under par, one stroke better than Kurt Kitayama (66), Patrick Fishburn (70) and Sahith Theegala (70).
Vegas and Greyserman moved into the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings and into position for the PGA Tour playoffs, which begin in three weeks.
Greyserman began the week ranked No. 88 in the rankings. Vegas was No. 149, six spots ahead of Kuchar, the only player to qualify for the playoffs every year since they began in 2007. Kuchar, 46, moved up 44 spots to No. 111.
