Published: October 25, 2009 11:40 pm      

Matteson gives away lead, wins in playoff

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Recovering from a late collapse, Troy Matteson birdied the second playoff hole to beat Jamie Lovemark and Rickie Fowler in the Frys.com Open on Sunday at Grayhawk Golf Club.

Matteson bogeyed the final two holes of regulation to fall into the playoff with Lovemark and Fowler, who are both seeking PGA Tour cards.

After all three players parred the first playoff hole, Matteson hit his approach within 3 feet on the 464-yard, par-4 17th hole. With shadows stretching onto the green, he rolled in the putt for his second PGA Tour win.

On the first playoff hole — the 515-yard, par-4 18th — Matteson and Fowler each reached the green in two and made easy par putts.

Lovemark got a gift when his approach splashed into a man-made lagoon, then bounced onto the slope of the green. Lovemark chipped to 3 feet and made the putt to stay alive.

The 29-year-old Matteson’s first tour victory came as a rookie in 2006, when he won the Frys.com Open in Las Vegas, now called the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Fowler and Lovemark had finished their rounds when Matteson faltered on a sun-splashed afternoon in the desert.

After bogeying the 17th, Matteson (68) knocked his approach shot into a bunker on the 18th. He chipped to about 10 feet, then missed the putt to force a playoff with Fowler and Lovemark.

Fowler (64) led briefly midway through the round, but his bogey on 18 cost him a chance to win in regulation.

Lovemark played his way into contention with a 64. He had seven birdies in regulation, five on the back nine.

Bill Lunde (66) and Tim Clark (67) tied for fourth at 16 under, and 2007 winner Mike Weir (61) and Bryce Molder (63) followed at 15 under. Weir had a chance for the fourth 59 in PGA Tour history, but parred the final holes.

Matteson rolled into Sunday with a three-stroke lead, thanks to back-to-back 61s on Friday and Saturday — a PGA Tour record for lowest score in consecutive rounds.