Aided by the short rough he ridiculed five days before, Scott Hoch became the oldest winner on the US PGA Tour this season by winning the Greater Greensboro Classic yesterday.

The 45-year-old American fired a three-under par 69 final round to finish at 16-under par 272 and defeat compatriots Brett Quigley and Scott Simpson by one stroke at the $3.5 million event.

But Hoch was helped by the short rough when, needing only a bogey on the final hole to win the tournament, he sailed his approach over the 18th green into the rough beyond.

Hoch sent his chip 10 feet past the hole, then two-putted for bogey for the victory. Had the rough been as tall as he wanted, Hoch might not have managed to make the shots he needed on the final hole to win.