Sweden’s Carl Pettersson staged a powerful back-nine charge to overhaul a crumbling Dean Wilson and claim a dramatic one-shot victory at the Canadian Open on Sunday.
Trailing Wilson by four strokes on the 11th tee, Pettersson shifted into top gear by carding four birdies over the next five holes to surge past the reeling American with a three-under 67 and claim his fourth USPGA Tour title.
“I love the back nine, it sets up great for me,” Pettersson told reporters. “I played very aggressive coming in and all of a sudden I had the lead when I birdied 14, but 16 and 17 are difficult holes and I knew even with a two-shot lead anything can happen. I guess this was my week.”
Pettersson had displayed a flair for the dramatic all week at St George’s Golf and Country Club, just making the one-under cut to sneak into the weekend and rocketing into contention on Saturday with a 10-under 60, the lowest score in the Canadian Open’s 101 years.
The Swede provided one final moment of suspense at the 18th when he missed a six-foot par putt, but was left an easy tap-in for a bogey and a winning total of 14-under 266.
Only three times in the last four years has a player come from the cut line to win a PGA tournament.
“It’s possible, but it’s rare,” Pettersson said. “When I finished [Friday’s second round] I thought I had missed.”
“I walked into the locker room and Jay Williamson had all the scenarios written out and he’s like: ‘Grab a beer,’” Pettersson said. “Before you know it, I had seven beers; my caddy had to drive me home.”
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