3 birdies at end give Canadian Open to Day

“I’m definitely happy with it. Just solid play”. Hadwin told caddie Joe Cruz early in his round he was feeling good. But this was no regular week.

The kid from down under played incredible golf all week in Oakville, Ontario. “I knew there was always a chance (I could win)”, he said. “There are so many good Canadian players”. “I’m like I am willing to step up to the challenge”.

I switched hats and ran out the door. Hearn’s entrance to the first tee drew a roar from the crowd.

Watson and Hearn, playing in the final pairing, shot 69 and 72 respectively. “But Graham DeLaet, David, there are a bunch of fine young players, so I’m sure it’s going to happen”. His shot into the bunker on 18 was the end.

It was the 27-year-old’s ninth professional win and fourth on the lucrative US PGA Tour.

Despite that loss, Hearn is on something of a roll. That wouldve been his first win. Hearn said nerves were “obviously” a factor. “He putts unbelievable. There were so many putts that he hit that should’ve fell in”.

Brian Harman was second, following his opening 65 with a 67. “When someone is right on your heels you know you can’t let up”.

Watson eagled the par-five 13th, made a bogey on the par-four 14th and rallied with birdies on 16 and the par-five 18th.

“I’m driving it great”, Day said. Day birdied the final three holes of his final round to earn the victory. “I just got derailed”.

Bubba Watson was second at 16 under, while Hearn was third at 15 under. A 4-iron from the fairway on the par-5 13th hole carried through the green, 40 feet past the hole. The Canadian stared at the ground for 20 or 30 seconds.

“I took the opportunity and to be able to do that gives me a lot more confidence going into the rest of the season”, he said. “I’ll do that one day”. Local school principal Tom Fraser carried the 44-year-old Australian’s bag the final nine holes Thursday.

Hearn, to his credit, never folded in dramatic fashion. It began to feel, again, like maybe this was going to be Canada’s day. Hearn was at 17-under for the tournament after two holes on Sunday. A hundred yards or so away was the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. “One of us will win it one day soon”. After a bogey at the par-3 12th, he chunked a chip at the par-5 13th and begged it not to roll down into the run-off area. A pitch shot only got halfway back to the pin, but then Hearn made the putt from off the green. He wiped sweat off his brow and stared at the hole with his trademark sunglasses off. Jason Day’s winning score: 17-under. Missing putts by mere centimetres on 8 and 9 didn’t help. It started during the first round when Jason Day holed out from 94 yards out on the par-4 10th hole.