Nick Watney staked a late claim for a place on the United States Ryder Cup team as he took advantage of a bad day for Sergio Garcia to carry off the title at The Barclays.
The 31-year-old has endured a poor year on tour but put that behind him to register a three-shot victory after a closing 69, with fellow American Brandt Snedeker in second place at Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale.
Garcia was seeking back-to-back triumphs after winning at the Wyndham Championship last Monday, but he went from the top of the leaderboard at the start of the day to a tie for third alongside Dustin Johnson after a four-over 75.
US captain Davis Love III is due to name his 12 on September 4 for the match against Europe at Medinah, starting on September 28.
Watney entered the world's top 10 for the first time last year but has since drifted to 35th, his position before this triumph.
He is outside the qualifying places for the American team so will be relying on a wild card, but there could hardly be a better time to win and remind Love of his ability.
Watney was asked about his Ryder Cup prospects after a victory that gave him his first top-five finish of 2012.
"I'm just very, very happy right now," he said. "It's been not quite the year I would have wanted, but this really makes it all forgotten.
"Winning out here and against this field was very, very difficult.
"The Ryder Cup is out of my control. I obviously would love to be on the team.''
The Deutsche Bank Championship at Boston TPC, starting on Friday, gives US players the final opportunity to catch Love's attention.
Watney added: "I haven't performed how I would have liked this year as far as making that team (goes), but it's out of my control, so all I can do is try to get ready to play next week and see where the chips fall.
"I'm thinking much more now (about the Ryder Cup) than I was coming in, because coming in here I didn't deserve to be in the conversation, because I had not played my way in.
"Someone told me that Davis said he wanted a hot player, and we still have a week to go. I'd love to be on the team. But I'm not really concerned with it just because it's out of my control.''
Snedeker and Johnson, who had final rounds of 70 and 68 respectively, could say the same. They too are outside the top eight in the points standings. Love has four captain's picks.
Snedeker has been in touch with the US captain.
"We've been texting. He's been intentionally staying out of our way I think,'' Snedeker said. "But his message has been very clear, him and his assistant captains: just forget about the Ryder Cup and play as good as you possibly can and it will take care of itself.
"I'm taking that on now. I'm doing everything I can, and if it happens, it happens; and if it doesn't happen, I'm okay with it.''
England's former world number one Lee Westwood finished in a share of fifth place with Canadian Graham DeLaet, South African Louis Oosthuizen and American Brian Harman.
Westwood, who will be in Medinah, had a closing 70 while DeLaet had a best-of-the-day 65 to leap 38 places on the leaderboard.
Luke Donald came in 10th after a one-under 70, and Padraig Harrington, who led after a first-round 64 before throwing in back-to-back 75s, completed his week's work with a 68 for a share of 19th.
Harrington is a long shot for Europe's team, captain Jose Maria Olazabal has indicated.
Rory McIlroy had a closing 72 to tie for 24th, while it was a day to forget for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as the multiple major winners crumbled to rounds of 76 and fell 28 places to tie for 38th.
All three, though, will be among the star attractions at the end of next month.
