Pettersson captures Canadian Open PGA title
Sweden's Carl "Big Dog" Pettersson captured the PGA's Canadian Open golf title on Sunday in Toronto, firing six birdies in eight holes to overtake American Dean Wilson for a one-stroke triumph.
Pettersson, coming off a tournament-record 60 in Saturday's third round, fired a three-under par 67 at St. George's Golf and Country Club to complete 72 holes on 14-under 266 and defeat Wilson, the leader by four strokes when the day began.
"I still can't believe I won the tournament," Pettersson said. "I know it's difficult to shoot another low one after a round like that, so I was just trying to downplay it. I just tried to stay calm and whatever happens happens."
Pettersson's victory came hours after country Richard S. Johnson won the European Tour's Scandinavian Masters crown on home turf northwest of Stockholm.
Pettersson only made the cut by a stroke after opening with rounds of 71 and 68 but took the $918,000 (6.71 million kronor) prize and his first victory since the 2008 Wyndham Championship. He also won the 2006 Memorial and 2006 Chrysler crowns.
The Swede bogeyed at the fourth and seventh holes and Wilson appeared to be in command, but Pettersson closed the front nine with a pair of birdies, birdied the 11th and ran off three birdies in a row starting at the 13th hole with a 15-footer.
Wilson, 40, stumbled with bogeys at the 12th and 14th holes to hand Pettersson the lead after the Swede sank a 25-footer, falling two strokes off the pace with the European's birdie from 4.5 feet at 15.
Both men parred the 16th and 17th holes and the 18th, playing the toughest hole of the week, ended with a par for Wilson. That allowed Pettersson, 32, the luxury of a closing bogey being good enough to capture his fourth career title at the $5.1 million event.
"I felt like I handled it well coming in," Pettersson said. "I know I bogeyed the last, but after Dean didn't make birdie, I sort of ginched that putt up there."
Wilson, who was playing on a sponsor's exemption, settled for an unsatisfying second.
"If you would have told me before the week that I could be second alone, I would have been tickled," Wilson said. "Being in the position that I was, I'm a little disappointed. But still, lots of positives."
England's Luke Donald was third, two strokes off the pace. Sharing fourth on 270 were South Korean Charlie Wi, Australian Greg Chalmers, Americans Michael Letzig, Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, Jeff Quinney, Bryce Molder and Bob Estes as well as South African Tim Clark.
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Pettersson, coming off a tournament-record 60 in Saturday's third round, fired a three-under par 67 at St. George's Golf and Country Club to complete 72 holes on 14-under 266 and defeat Wilson, the leader by four strokes when the day began.
"I still can't believe I won the tournament," Pettersson said. "I know it's difficult to shoot another low one after a round like that, so I was just trying to downplay it. I just tried to stay calm and whatever happens happens."
Pettersson's victory came hours after country Richard S. Johnson won the European Tour's Scandinavian Masters crown on home turf northwest of Stockholm.
Pettersson only made the cut by a stroke after opening with rounds of 71 and 68 but took the $918,000 (6.71 million kronor) prize and his first victory since the 2008 Wyndham Championship. He also won the 2006 Memorial and 2006 Chrysler crowns.
The Swede bogeyed at the fourth and seventh holes and Wilson appeared to be in command, but Pettersson closed the front nine with a pair of birdies, birdied the 11th and ran off three birdies in a row starting at the 13th hole with a 15-footer.
Wilson, 40, stumbled with bogeys at the 12th and 14th holes to hand Pettersson the lead after the Swede sank a 25-footer, falling two strokes off the pace with the European's birdie from 4.5 feet at 15.
Both men parred the 16th and 17th holes and the 18th, playing the toughest hole of the week, ended with a par for Wilson. That allowed Pettersson, 32, the luxury of a closing bogey being good enough to capture his fourth career title at the $5.1 million event.
"I felt like I handled it well coming in," Pettersson said. "I know I bogeyed the last, but after Dean didn't make birdie, I sort of ginched that putt up there."
Wilson, who was playing on a sponsor's exemption, settled for an unsatisfying second.
"If you would have told me before the week that I could be second alone, I would have been tickled," Wilson said. "Being in the position that I was, I'm a little disappointed. But still, lots of positives."
England's Luke Donald was third, two strokes off the pace. Sharing fourth on 270 were South Korean Charlie Wi, Australian Greg Chalmers, Americans Michael Letzig, Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, Jeff Quinney, Bryce Molder and Bob Estes as well as South African Tim Clark.
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