Sean O’Hair beat fellow American Kris Blanks in a sudden death playoff to capture the Canadian Open on Sunday, while Adam Hadwin’s stirring bid to become the first homegrown winner in 57 years fell short.
O’Hair bogeyed the first playoff hole then watched as Blanks missed his bogey putt from five feet for a chance to extend the playoff as he recorded his fourth career USPGA Tour win and first since 2009.
O’Hair, who started the day three shots behind overnight leader Bo Van Pelt, clawed his way into contention with a two-under-par 68, while Blanks, the first-round leader, shot 69 to force a playoff after rolling in a 10-foot par putt on 18.
Photo: AFP
Blanks and O’Hair, who had been without a top-10 finish this season, both finished the regulation 72 holes at four-under-par 276.
Argentine Andres Romero, who rallied on the back nine with five birdies, had looked poised to make it a three-way playoff until a bogey at the last left him one shot out after an even-par 70.
“Obviously it has been a tough year,” O’Hair told reporters. “When I played the Pro Am, this is a very intimidating golf course, I played horrific. “
Wednesday night was probably the lowest point of my year,” he said. “I just didn’t know how I was going to play this week and to be sitting here now is amazing.”
The playoff capped a dramatic afternoon at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, much of it centered around Hadwin, a 23-year-old unknown who started the day just one shot off the lead and in position to become the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to win the national championship.
Playing in the final group alongside overnight leader Van Pelt and Romero, there was no mistaking who the large gallery was backing, as Hadwin was greeted by a thundering roar and calls of “You can do it Adam” when he appeared on the first tee.
Teeing it up in just his third USPGA Tour event, Hadwin had been a cool customer all week, but finally seemed overwhelmed by the enormity of the moment carding a bogey on the opening hole, another at the fourth and a double-bogey at the eighth.
Just when all seemed lost, Hadwin launched a back nine challenge that electrified the galleries with three straight birdies from the 12th to rocket back into contention just one off the lead with four holes to play.
However, Hadwin’s rally stalled and he finished with a 72 and a tie for fourth with Australian Geoff Ogilvy (70) on 278.
“Being in the final group and playing for an entire country was pretty exciting,” said Hadwin, who earns his living on the Canadian Tour. “I wish I had been able to start off a little better, but I brought it back and I had a chance.”
“I played some great golf and in the end I only fell two shots short. I belong out there,” he added.
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