An amateur hasn’t won the Canadian Open since American Doug Sanders at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in 1956.
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Jhonattan Vegas was glued to his phone.
No one could catch him. The Scot, chasing his fourth TOUR title, first since the 2013 Valero Texas Open, departs with a season best, previously T7 at the opposite-field Barracuda, and his sixth career runner-up in his 210th career event. As soon as Vegas stepped off the stage he was back on the phone, speaking with his family in Spanish, celebrating his second PGA Tour win.
“I had a six-shot lead going into the weekend (last week) and lost by three”.
The Venezuelan Vegas was nearly flawless at the Glen Abbey Golf Club, kicking off his round with a flurry of five successive birdies starting at the second hole, after opening the day five shots adrift of overnight leader Brandt Snedeker. “It’s a insane sport”. “You’ve just got to keep your head down and play hard”. 2-6, bogeyed the par-4 eighth and also birdied the par-5 13th.
“It definitely feels bigger, feels more exciting because I have a family to share this with”, said Vegas.
“It;s a fun feeling”, Vegas said on CBS after his round.
Dustin Johnson is even on the day at -8.
“It’s great to have a low score like that and who knows what might happen”. Super surprised when nobody got to 12.
Johnson, Jon Rahm and Martin Laird tied for second.
Vegas earned US$1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey. He also received a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the Masters next year.
“I had a long talk with my parents. Came this week with a completely different approach about things, and obviously it worked out”.
“It has to do with the putter”.
“I’m just there to give him some confidence and slow him down when I need to”, said Burke shortly after du Toit’s third round finished. I’m confident that he’ll figure it out eventually, but the PGA Tour grind can be a humbling experience even for the best young players. I’m really looking forward to going into next week. Do a little practice on the putting in the next few days over at Baltusrol. “I’m on cloud nine right now”.
Du Toit struggled to start the final round with two early bogeys, but birdied 16 and 18 to finish two shots ahead of world No. 1 Jason Day.
Snedeker, the 2013 victor at Glen Abbey, shot a 71 to tie for fifth at 10 under. He birdied the 16th and closed with two pars. “We both have, I’d say, a similar personality”. To putt the way I did and make decisions the way I did, put the ball in play off the tee like I did today and have every chance to be successful and completely gave it away.
“It’s just nice to shoot a low round and show that I’m heading in the right direction”.
Johnson posted a three-under 69 in the final round of the RBC Canadian Open to finish in a tie for second place. He birdied 16 and 18.
Du Toit, who only had 15 fans following his trio in Thursday’s opening round, had nothing but praise for the Canadian fans who rallied to support him after 5-under 67 in the first round thrust him to the top of the standings.
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A Canadian hasn’t won the national golf championship since 1954, when Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club.
