Thomas, who missed the cut at TPC River Highlands, called it, and Spieth delivered.
Former world number one Spieth stumbled with a poor back nine to card 70, while Berger shot 67 to force a playoff.
Spieth's approach fell into bunker. But then he blasted out and the ball bounced twice on the green and rolled three feet into the cup.
"For the bunker shot to go in, that was awesome", Spieth said after the win. That was fun. I don't know how many (more) or if I'll ever have a moment equivalent to that again, something like that to win a tournament.
The precise execution enabled Spieth to overcome a back nine meltdown in which he putted poorly and nearly allowed fast-finishing Berger to steal victory.
Berger could do nothing but look on as the madness unfolded and was extremely gracious in defeat, saying in his post-round interview that it was Jordan Spieth doing Jordan Spieth things. Obviously I wanted to win.
"It's always been a confident feeling for me looking down at a Vokey wedge, knowing that Bob [Vokey] and Aaron [Dill] have me dialed in", Spieth said past year.
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Hales had reached eight when he was struck on the knee by Paterson and left in a crumpled heap on the floor. Hales had made 36 from 28 balls when David Miller caught him on the mid-wicket boundary off Phehlukwayo.
Jordan Spieth is 18 holes away from capturing his second win this season, holding the Travelers Championship lead through three rounds.
Spieth said his goal at the start of the tournament was to average 4-under par each round. The Hall of Famer, long hampered by back problems, won 15 times on the PGA Tour - his lone major coming in the 1992 Masters. "I feel very lucky". The 43-year-old Weekley, playing just in front of Spieth, birdied five of the last eight holes to grab a share of the lead with Spieth at 11 under.
Boo Weekley, who began the round a shot back in second place, shot 37 on the back nine to tie for fifth at 9 under, despite the support of a large gallery, which could be heard cheering "Boooo!" and "Boo-S-A!" every time he did something good.
Hoffman eagled the par-3 13th hole and followed with two birdies, but then his round fell apart with a double bogey at the par-3 16th hole and bogeys at Nos.
Both players parred 18 to set up the playoff, each finding a greenside bunker then blasting out to three feet and making the par putt. "If it goes in, great, if it doesn't, so be it, tap it in", Spieth said. "It was a battle".
"The putter kind of let me down a little through the round but Michael (Greller, Spieth's caddie) kept me in it when I was losing it out there".
Third-ranked Rory McIlroy shot 64 to finish on 274, having struggled much of the week before rebounding in the final round to carry some confidence into the run-up to next month's British Open.
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