CARL PETTERSSON shrugged off a mid-round slump to secure a two-stroke victory over Scott McCarron at the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina on Sunday.
The North Carolina-based Swede surrendered the lead with soft bogeys at the 10th and 11th holes, before roaring back to edge out his American playing partner at Sedgefield.
The overnight leader carded a 68 to finish on a tournament-record 21-under-par 259, while McCarron shot the same score for a 19-under finish, with Rich Beem (63) two shots further back in third place.
"This week has been fantastic. This feels like home for me," the 30-year-old Pettersson said after claiming his third PGA Tour victory.
Pettersson is the third Swede to win in the States this year, joining Daniel Chopra (Mercedes Championship) and Richard Johnson (Milwaukee), and the second to win in Greensboro, after Jesper Parnevik (1999).
The Swede still remains a long shot to make the European Ryder Cup team automatically, but his performance brings him into contention for one of the two captain's picks Nick Faldo will make in two weeks.
Pettersson left Sweden for England at the age of 10, and moved to Greensboro at 15 when his Volvo executive father was transferred to the city.
He admits to feeling more American than European but would love to play for Europe at next month's Ryder Cup in Kentucky.
"I know I'm Swedish but I really feel American," he said. "But my heritage is European and I would love to play on Nick's team.
"I might be a little different but I'm going to be playing hard for Europe if I make that team."
The Ryder Cup was far from Pettersson's mind as he made the turn one stroke ahead, only to three-putt from the fringe for bogey at the 10th.
He dropped another shot at the next, where he missed a five-foot putt for par.
McCarron had the lead and appeared poised to go further ahead with a 10-foot birdie chance at the par-three 12th, only to three-putt moments after Pettersson had made a 13-footer to save par.
"I let it go at 12 when he made that great up-and-down and I missed that short putt," admitted McCarron.
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