In July 2012, Matteson finished second at the John Deere Classic after losing out in a playoff to Zach Johnson. The pair were tied at 20 under par after regulation play and at the first extra hole both players made double bogey after finding the water hazard with their second shots into the 18th. Johnson won the playoff with a birdie on the second extra hole when he tapped in from less than a foot after a superb approach, while Matteson could not hole his 43-footer to extend the playoff. However Matteson secure a place in The Open Championship for the first time in his career by finishing as the highest non-qualifier at the event.