RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico - Scott Brown went from a one-shot deficit to a one-shot victory Sunday in the Puerto Rico Open when he made a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole to beat Fabian Gomez and capture his first PGA Tour title.
Brown closed with a 2-under 70, his final birdie set up with a 3-iron that he kept low to avoid palm trees and leave himself a 30-yard pitch short of the green.
Gomez, trying to become the first Argentine to win on tour since Angel Cabrera at the 2009 Masters, was in perfect position off the tee at the 18th. That's when it went all awry.
His second shot left him a tough lie in the bunker, and he blasted that over the green and into another bunker. He missed a 15-foot par putt for a 71, and then had to watch as Brown rapped in the winning putt.
Brown finished at 20-under 268 to set the tournament record. He earned $630,000, a two-year exemption on the Tour and a spot in The Players Championship in May and the PGA Championship in August. Because the Puerto Rico Open is held the same week as a World Golf Championship event, the win does not get the native of Augusta, Ga., into the Masters.
Brown became the fourth first-time tour winner this year, joining Russell Henley (Sony Open), John Merrick (Northern Trust Open) and Michael Thompson (Honda Classic).