Big-hitting J.B. Holmes overpowered the daunting Quail Hollow layout to win the Wells Fargo Championship, his first PGA Tour victory since undergoing brain surgery in 2011.

Holmes carded a third-round 66 to craft a one-stroke lead with a round to play at the course that will host the US PGA Championship in 2017. The 32-year-old held steady during a see-sawing final round and birdied the 10th, 11th and 15th holes to push his lead to three strokes at 16-under-par with the imposing ‘Green Mile’ holes remaining.

J.B. Holmes celebrates after winning the Wells Fargo Championship. PHOTO: Getty Images

Jim Furyk, who eagled the par-5 15th hole en route to a closing 65, sat in the clubhouse at 13-under after setting the score to beat. A bogey by Holmes at 16 cut the gap to two but a gritty par putt from ten feet at the water-laden 17th preserved that edge and allowed him the luxury of a closing bogey to win by a stroke. Holmes’ playing partner Martin Flores could have forced a play-off with a last-hole birdie but bunkered his tee shot and also dropped a shot.

A dogged Jason Bohn was another potential threat after he holed two sensational shots early on the back nine – for eagle at the 10th and birdie at the 12th. Yet his challenge ended when he rinsed his tee shot at the 17th and also bogeyed the home hole.

Holmes gets a congratulatory hug from his wife Sara after holing the winning putt. PHOTO: Getty Images

This victory capped a remarkable comeback for Holmes, whose two previous Tour titles both came at the Phoenix Open. He led the 2008 PGA Championship at the midpoint but fell from contention in a closing 81. He was a member of that year’s victorious American Ryder Cup side but largely disappeared from leaderboards thereafter as his serious health issues surfaced. Holmes made his comeback in early 2012 but fought a broken ankle and an elbow injury for much of last year, necessitating an extended medical exemption for the first half of this season.

“It’s been a long journey for me,” Holmes said. “I’ve had some ups and downs. It’s a great feeling to be out there and to get one done.”

The burly Kentuckian can now rest easy with a two-year exemption, a start at this week’s lucrative Players Championship and a 2015 Masters invitation now secured.

LEADERBOARD

1. J.B. Holmes (US)                          70-67-66-71—274

2. Jim Furyk (US)                             72-69-69-65—275

3. Martin Flores (US)                        67-68-69-72—276

4. Jason Bohn (US)                           73-67-67-70—277

5. Justin Rose (Eng)                          69-67-71-71—278

ALSO:

T14. Geoff Ogilvy (Vic)                  72-67-70-73—282

T50. Danny Lee (NZ)                      71-71-70-76—288

T55. Robert Allenby (Vic)              73-72-73-71—289

72. Bronson La’Cassie (Qld)          71-73-77-75—296

*For the full leaderboard, click here