Cromwell, Conn. ? Brad Faxon’s persistence at the Buick Championship finally paid off.

He rolled in a three-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday and beat South African Tjaart van der Walt for his first victory since 2001.

Faxon tied the course record in regulation with a 9-under 61, a personal best for the 44-year-old. He stayed close to home for his eighth PGA Tour victory, earning a $774,000 paycheck.

The Rhode Islander has been a mainstay at this New England tournament, appearing 22 times. His best finish had been an eighth in 1996.

“People get excited about this tournament, and I love playing close to home,” Faxon said. “Nobody on tour would ever tell you anything differently. My father came today, my aunt, my uncle, my cousins are here. Great friends are here. It’s just awesome.”

Van der Walt shot a 64 Sunday and birdied the final two holes to tie Faxon at 14-under 266 and force a playoff back to the 434-yard par-4 18th.

Third-rounder leader Justin Rose (69) finished one stroke out of the playoff, while former British Open champion Ben Curtis (69), Jerry Kelly (77) and NCAA runner-up Michael Putnam (63) were at 12 under.

Putnam had been at Merion last week for the U.S. Amateur when he was told he received a sponsor’s exemption to the Buick Championship. He decided to turn pro and earned $177,733 in his PGA Tour debut.

On the playoff hole both hit great second shots.

Faxon drove into the left fairway bunker and had 169 yards to the hole and stuck his 7-iron approach three feet from the cup. Van der Walt, unflappable all week at the TPC at River Highlands, drove it right down the middle to within 134 yards. His approach banged off the flagstick and rolled just over nine feet from the cup. The players high-fived each other as they walked up the 18th fairway to an ovation. Van der Walt pushed his birdie putt right, then stood back and watched as Faxon coolly rolled his in for the victory.