Jason Day denies David Hearn’s bid to win Canadian Open
Jason Day made himself right at home in the Canadian Open – at David Hearn’s expense.
The Australian birdied the final three holes to win the national championship Sunday at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario, spoiling Hearn’s bid to become the first Canadian winner in 61 years.
“I’ve never felt so much at home, and I’m not even from Canada,” Day said. “I’m looking forward to coming back and defending the title here next year because I know that when I get here next year it’s going to be the same. It’s great to feel like a Canadian for a week.”
Day made a 20-foot putt on the par-5 18th for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke victory over Bubba Watson. Hearn, two strokes ahead of Day and Watson entering the round, had a 72 to finish third – two strokes back.
“I’m real proud of the way I played and I’m really proud to be Canadian today,” Hearn said. “It was a pretty special day with all of the fans and the support that I had from beginning to finish.”
Pat Fletcher, born in England, was the last Canadian winner in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver, British Columbia. Carl Keffer is the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Albert Murray, a Canadian also born in England, won in 1908 and 1913.
“It was one focused mindset the whole day today to do something really special and win the tournament,” said Hearn, from Brantford – also hockey great Wayne Gretzky’s hometown. “It hasn’t been done in a long time, and I felt like I had the ability to do it today. I gave it my all. I didn’t quite have my best game.”
“It’s a matter of time,” fourth-place Jim Furyk said. “There are so many good Canadian players. I feel bad Mike Weir never won this golf tournament. But Graham DeLaet, David, there are a bunch of fine young players, so I’m sure it’s going to happen.”
Hearn was the first Canadian to have a 54-hole lead at the Canadian Open since Weir in 2004 at Glen Abbey. Weir led by three, but lost in a playoff to Vijay Singh.
Spokane’s Alex Prugh shot a final-round 76 and finished 11 strokes behind Day.
Senior British Open
American Marco Dawson held off Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie over the final nine holes to win a tournament for the second time this year.
Dawson closed with a 6-under 64 to finish at 16-under 264 on the Old Course in Sunningdale, England. He also won the Champions Tour’s Tucson Conquistadores Classic in March.
Langer, the winner last year at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, was a stroke back after a 64. Montgomerie was third at 13 under after a 67.
LPGA
Lexi Thompson won the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan, by a stroke for her fifth LPGA Tour title, shooting a 6-under 65 to overcome a four-stroke deficit.
The 20-year-old won for the first time since capturing her first major title last year at the then-Kraft Nabisco Championship.
She finished at 18-under 266 and earned $300,000.
Lizette Salas, four strokes ahead after the third round, tied for second with Gerina Piller. Salas finished with a 70, and Piller had a 64.