Sweden's Pettersson wins Canadian Open title
Sweden's Carl Pettersson captured the US PGA Canadian Open title on
Sunday, firing six birdies in eight holes to overtake American Dean
Wilson for a one-stroke triumph.
Pettersson, coming off a tournament-record 60 in Saturday's third
round, fired a three-under par 67 Sunday to complete 72 holes on
14-under 266 and defeat Wilson, the leader by four strokes when the day
began.
"I still can't believe I won the tournament," Pettersson said. "I
know it's difficult to shoot another low one after a round like that, so
I was just trying to downplay it. I just tried to stay calm and whatever
happens happens."
Pettersson only made the cut by a stroke after opening with rounds of
71 and 68 but took the 918,000-dollar top prize and his first victory
since the 2008 Wyndham Championship. He also won the 2006 Memorial and
2006 Chrysler crowns.
The Swede took bogeys at the fourth and seventh holes and Wilson
appeared to be in command but Pettersson closed the front nine with a
pair of birdies, birdied the 11th and ran off three birdies in a row
starting at the 13th with a 15-footer.
Wilson, 40, stumbled with bogeys at the 12th and 14th to hand
Pettersson the lead after the Swede sank a 25-footer, falling two
strokes off the pace with the European's birdie from 4.5 feet at 15.
Both men parred the 16th and 17th and the 18th, playing the toughest
hole of the week, ended with a par for Wilson.
That allowed Pettersson, 32, the luxury of a closing bogey being good
enough to capture his fourth career title at the 5.1 million-dollar
event.
"I felt like I handled it well coming in," Pettersson said. "I know I
bogeyed the last, but after Dean didn't make birdie, I sort of ginched
that putt up there."
Wilson, who was playing on a sponsor's exemption, settled for an
unsatisfying second.
"If you would have told me before the week that I could be second
alone, I would have been tickled," Wilson said. "Being in the position
that I was, I'm a little disappointed. But still, lots of positives."
England's Luke Donald was third, two strokes off the pace.
Sharing fourth on 270 were South Korean Charlie Wi, Australian Greg
Chalmers, Americans Michael Letzig, Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, Jeff
Quinney, Bryce Molder and Bob Estes as well as South African Tim Clark.
TORONTO, Canada, Tuesday AFP |