Johnson turns quick start into Canadian Open win

OAKVILLE, Ont. - World number one Dustin Johnson broke free from the leading pack with birdies on his opening two holes and stayed out front the rest of the way to capture the Canadian Open and his third PGA Tour title of the season on Sunday.

After two runners-up finishes, Johnson finally snatched the Canadian crown with a workmanlike final round of six-under 66 that left the big-hitting American three shots clear of Kim Whee and An Byeong-hun

The South Koreans both birdied the final hole for matching 69s to share second on 20-under-par.

Keegan Bradley made a rousing final round rally, carding the round of the day with an error free eight-under 64 to finish alone in third a further shot back.

"Obviously I have a lot of fans out there thanks to Wayne and the family and I appreciate all the support," said Johnson, who is married to Canadian hockey great Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina.

"With my ties to Canada, Paulina and her dad being Wayne Gretzky I definitely get a lot of fans that pull for Wayne, pull for me.

"I definitely helped. The fans are great. I definitely feel like an honorary Canadian."

Coming off his first missed cut of the year last week at the British Open, Johnson rebounded in some style to clinch his 19th career title with a winning tally of 23-under 265.

Johnson becomes the first player since Tiger Woods in 2009 to win three or more times in three consecutive years.

There was a logjam at the top of the leaderboard at the start of the final round with Johnson, An, Kim and Kevin Tway all sitting on 17 under and holding a four-shot advantage over the chasing pack.

Johnson's experience provided the early edge as he wasted no time breaking free with birdies at one and two, while the three co-leaders, who were all chasing their first PGA Tour titles, picked up early bogeys.

"It was definitely good to get off to a fast start," said Johnson.

"I birdied the first and had a really good look at eagle on the second, it's definitely good especially when the leaderboard is so bunched up.

"I just needed to get out in front, if I could get ahead I felt like I could play well and keep myself in the lead for the rest of the day which I did."

With his challengers off to a shaky start Johnson calmly seized control, opening up a three-shot lead after just four holes.

But the American's charge stalled as he struggled with his putter and he had to settle for five consecutive pars before rolling in a 12-footer at the eighth.

As Johnson and An stepped onto the ninth tee, the horn sounded halting play due to stormy weather in the area.

When play resumed following a nearly two-hour delay, the gap tightened as Johnson recorded a par and An and Kim picked up birdies to cut American's lead to two.

After Johnson took his only bogey of the day at the 12th, his lead was trimmed to a single shot but the 34-year-old was unshakeable, answering with a birdie at 13 to get back on track.

(Editing by Clare Fallon and Nick Mulvenney)

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Hoffman charges to one stroke lead at Canadian Open

Charley Hoffman rolled in six birdies in a seven-under 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into the final day at the Canadian Open.

Hoffman was one ahead of fellow American Kevin Chappell (66), who bogeyed the last hole after finding water, with Gary Woodland and Robert Garrigus a further stroke behind.

Garrigus's round of 62 tied a course record.

Hoffman, who is 17-under overall, said staying aggressive and making birdies was key to winning the tournament, which would be his first victory since his Texas Open win last year.


"Making pars on Sunday out here is not going to get me anywhere," he said in a television interview after the third round.

"I'm going to keep my same game-plan -- a bunch of drivers, hit a bunch of wedge shots close and hopefully make some putts."

Low wind, receptive greens and plenty of sunshine led to a shootout at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, with 30 players boasting overall scores of 10-under or better heading into Sunday.

World number one Dustin Johnson appeared poised to take the lead until his second shot on the 11th hole landed in the water, leading to a double-bogey.

He finished the day with a 68 and sits five strokes behind Hoffman.

"I just hit a terrible shot," said Johnson, who also misjudged several putts including a birdie chance at the 18th.

"I missed quite a few putts today but I feel like I'm rolling it well. I just need to go out tomorrow and see a few go into the hole," he said.

Former world number one and 2004 winner Vijay Singh failed to continue his sizzling play from Friday, shooting a 71 that had him tied with seven other players at 11-under.

The 54-year-old is seeking to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Ian Ransom)

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Fil-Australian Day wins Canadian Open

OAKVILLE, Ontario - Jason Day spoiled Canadian hopes of a first home-grown winner in 61 years at the Canadian Open with a one-stroke victory on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Australian birdied the last three holes at Glen Abbey to triumph by one over American Bubba Watson and by two over Canadian David Hearn, the 54-hole leader.

Day ended the tournament in style by rolling in a clutch 22-foot putt at the par-five 18th for a closing four-under-par 68 and a winning total of 17-under 271.

It was his second PGA Tour win of the season, the fourth of his career and followed up a strong tie for fourth at last week's British Open.

Watson and Hearn, playing in the final pairing, shot 69 and 72, respectively. Hearn held a one-stroke lead standing on the 16th tee but Day and Watson, who made birdie on five of his six closing holes, both charged past him with blazing finishes.

Last Monday, Day's birdie try on the 72nd hole at St. Andrews came up short and left him one shot shy of a British Open playoff won by Zach Johnson.

"To come off what happened last week and to be able to get the putt to the hole this time and come out as a winner, it just feels fantastic," said Day, who let out a yell and fist-pumped as his last putt dropped.

Watson appeared to be out of the mix after a bogey at the 10th, before his birdie spree. Day was playing in the group in front of Hearn and Watson, and had to watch Watson's short chip attempt for eagle slide by at 18 to know he had won.

"I've been putting in a lot of work, not only with my golf game, but with my body as well," Day said. "Mentally, I feel like I was in the right spot coming into this week and I played fantastic."

Hearn, vying to become the first Canadian winner at this event since Pat Fletcher in 1954, opened with back-to-back birdies, but stalled on the back nine.

"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."

(Reporting by Tim Wharnsby; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes and Larry Fine)

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