“There’s no better feeling than coming down to the wire and contending with these guys”. But this was no regular week. Canada’s David Hearn was tied for third at 11 under after a 64.
Advertisement
Hearn is the first Canadian to have a 54-hole lead at the Canadian Open since Mike Weir in 2004 at Glen Abbey.
Of course, you knew all of that.
The kid from down under played incredible golf all week in Oakville, Ontario.
But it never really got better than that for Hearn and his adoring compatriots on Sunday.
The hat I grabbed walking out the door had a Players Championship logo on the front.
The intensity was there, as each player wanted this victory more than anything, albeit for different respective reasons. Hearn, two strokes ahead of Day and Watson entering the round, had a 72 to finish third two strokes back. “I’m looking forward to embracing it”.
I switched hats and ran out the door. Hearn’s entrance to the first tee drew a roar from the crowd.
Truthfully, lets be honest, we dont think about where somebodys from, Watson said.
“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.
Bubba is a two-time Masters champ with an oversized swing and personality. His shot into the bunker on 18 was the end.
It has been a successful week for PGA Tour of Australasia Professionals with New Zealander Ryan Fox winning wire-to-wire at the Challenge Tour’s Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France.
Watson has already been backed for his final-round twoball with Hearn (6.35pm UK and Ireland time), but bet365’s 8-13 remains a tasty carrot. Both Day and Watson produced shots that Hearn just couldn’t match. “He putts unbelievable. There were so many putts that he hit that should’ve fell in”.
Hearn is thrilled to be in his current position, but does not believe he is the favourite heading into the final round where he will play alongside major champion Watson.
However he gave a stroke back with a bogey at 17 and settled for a par at the par-five 18th.
Brian Harman was second, following his opening 65 with a 67. If it becomes too much, it can squeeze the life out of you.
Watson endured a rollercoaster round that included eight birdies and five bogeys, and his fast finish was not enough. “I knew there was always a chance (I could win)”, he said. It started during the first round when Jason Day holed out from 94 yards out on the par-4 10th hole.
Advertisement
A spring rib injury derailed Koepka for a little while, but in the last few weeks he has been firing impressively again, finishing third in the St Jude Classic, 18 in the US Open and tenth in the Open. A 4-iron from the fairway on the par-5 13th hole carried through the green, 40 feet past the hole.
