American Boo Weekley defended his first PGA title, firing a par 71 in Sunday's final round to win the $5.5-million Heritage Classic by three strokes.

Weekley began the day with a three-stroke lead at the $5.5 million event and ended it walking to the 18th green to a chorus of boos, spectators calling his first name in a unique tribute contrasting most champions' cheers.

Weekley, who chipped in for pars on his final two holes last year to edge South African Ernie Els by a stroke, battled through a roller-coaster round of five birdies and five bogeys Sunday to finish on 15-under par 269.

"I didn't hit it real well," Weekley said. "I made some key putts and got it up and down. I struggled but I guess everybody struggled today."

Weekley birdied the second hole but followed with a bogey. He birdied the fifth but gave it back with a bogey at the eighth. A birdie to begin the back nine was followed by a bogey at 13.

Weekley birdied the 14th and 15th as well but made bogey at 16 and missed a short clinching putt for a final bogey at 18 but still won by the margin he began with because no rival could make a charge either.

Australia's Aaron Baddeley was one-under on the front nine but began with back nine with a bogey. He birdied 11 but a bogey at 14 was enough to keep birdies at 15 and 16 from making him a threat to Weekley.

Anthony Kim, who was joint second with Baddeley, finished the front nine with a double bogey so even a run of three birdies ending at 15 was not enough, especially after a bogey at the 16th.

Weekley became only the third player to win the event in consecutive years, joining the late Payne Stewart in 1989 and 1990 and Davis Love in 1991 and 1992.

Jim Furyk, a runner-up in 2005 and 2006, was fourth on 273, one stroke ahead of fellow American Cliff Kresge and two better than American Jason Bohn.

Weekley entered the event with three top-10 finishes in 11 events this year and had been a contender at last week's Masters before a final-round 77 dropped him to 20th at Augusta National.