LOREN ROBERTS sank a six-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Jerry Kelly at the $1.2 million PGA Greater Milwaukee Open yesterday and capture his second title of the year.

Roberts, who was three shots back entering the final round, birdied four of the last six holes to force a playoff with Kelly, a Wisconsin native who could not ride the home-state advantage to his first career PGA Tour victory.

Tiger Woods completed his first tournament as a professional in grand style by firing a final-round three-under-par 68, including a hole-in-one. He finished at seven-under 277 and received his first check of $2,544.

Roberts shot a three-under 68 to finish at 19-under 265. The 1994 runner-up birdied the fourth hole and bogeyed the ninth and 10th before his surge on the last six regulation holes.

"I thought I'd have to be 22 under par, but the course didn't play as easy for me with the wind," said Roberts. "I was trying to be patient. After 10, I thought I'd have to pull something out. I didn't hit a whole lot of good shots, but the three-putt on 10 snapped me out of it."

Roberts, who earned $216,000 for the victory, became the sixth multiple winner on Tour this year, having also taken the MCI Classic in April. This was Roberts' fourth career title.

Kelly, who started the day seven shots off the pace, carded a seven-under 64 at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course.

Kelly stormed through the front nine, birdying five of the first six holes, including two from over 20 feet out and a 35-footer on the par-three 164-foot fifth hole. He bogeyed the eighth hole but continued his torrid play on the back nine, birdying three of the last four.

"I really came on strong," said Kelly. "The playoff was nervous. After the tee shot, I was fine. I'm happy to gain the experience."

Jesper Parnevik of Sweden, who was the leader entering the final round, had a chance to join Roberts and Kelly in the playoff, but missed a six-foot par putt on the final hole to finish at one-over 72 for the day and in a four-way tie at 18-under 266.

"I thought I had a good shot on 18, but it took a huge bounce,"said Parnevik. "I knew if I could get to 20-under, I would win."

Nolan Henke, who fired a course record-tying 62 in the opening round, shot a 71 to join Parnevik, Steve Stricker and Andrew Magee in third place.

The 20-year-old Woods, who turned professional last Tuesday after winning an unprecedented third successive US Amateur Championship, amazed the crowd by eagling the par-five 485-yard fourth hole before firing a hole-in-one on the par-three 188-yard 14th hole.

"Overall, it was a lot of fun, said Woods. "Once you start playing for a living, everything changes. I thought the media would have died down, but it didn't. The fan support was outstanding."