American Steve Stricker drained a 30-foot birdie putt on the last hole Sunday to win the John Deere Classic with a final round 69 and a total of 22-under-par. Stricker also rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th to win the tournament for the third year in a row, finishing one shot clear of his compatriot Kyle Stanley, who made a bogey at the final hole to miss out on a playoff. It was the 21st time on the PGA Tour that a player won a tournament three years in succession. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer were among those who have achieved the feat. The victory gave the 44-year-old Stricker his 11th PGA Tour win and his second of this year following his triumph in The Memorial last month. Canada's Matt McQuillan and American Zach Johnson tied for third at 17-under, one stroke clear of Charles Howell III and Chez Reavie. McIlroy to tee off with Els and Fowler at British Open Rory McIlroy will begin his quest to add the British Open title to his US Open crown in the company of multiple major winner Ernie Els and rising American star Rickie Fowler. The trio will tee off in Thursday's first round at the Royal St George's Course in Sandwich, south-east of London where the 22-year-old McIlroy will aim to be become the youngest winner of the British Open since 1893. South Africa's Els will be bidding to add to his 2002 British Open title with Fowler seeking his first Major triumph. McIlroy, whose win at the Bethesda course in Maryland in June made him the youngest US Open champion since American great Bobby Jones in 1923, enjoyed a stellar start to last year's British Open at St Andrews, shooting a record-equalling 63 and finishing third despite a second round 80 in bad weather on the Scottish course. The Northern Ireland youngster has not played a competitive round of golf since winning the US Open. This year's British Open will be started by American Jerry Kelly, who is due to hit the first shot. He will hope to avoid a repeat of his performance in taking 11 on the opening hole when the British Open – the only one of golf's four Majors played outside the United States – was last staged at Royal St George's in 2003.
