Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia ó Sean OíHair turned around the worst week of his most trying golf season on an even tougher golf course.
Not even he imagined it was possible just four days ago.
Coming off a frustratingly close missed cut at the British Open, and in the midst of his worst season on the PGA Tour, OíHair ěplayed horrificî in Wednesdayís Pro-Am on the eve of the Canadian Open.
All of which made him savor the victory four days later that much more.
OíHair won after tapping in for bogey on the first playoff hole Sunday, and then watching fellow American Kris Blanks lip out his bogey putt from just over 5 feet.
It was the fourth PGA Tour victory for OíHair, but his first since 2009 and first top-15 during a season in which heís missed 10 of 17 cuts coming in.
The 29-year-old didnít see any irony in ending his slump at the Canadian Open in a season in which heís already fired a couple of Canadians ó swing coach Sean Foley, who also now works with Tiger Woods, and caddy Brennan Little. He had plenty of praise for both, but did find some irony in how the week played out.
ěIt is ironic that Iím sitting here after Wednesday and how I felt, and to be holding this trophy is unbelievable,î said OíHair, adding the breakthrough started after reading the Bible later that night.
It worked on a course that punished anyone who tried to force things.
OíHair started three shots off the lead before shooting 68 to get into a playoff with Blanks (70) at 4-under 276. It was the second-highest winning total on the PGA Tour this season, and the first non-major without a bogey-free round since 2008. Only eight players finished under par on the tree-lined Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club, so it was perhaps fitting it was won with a bogey.
After a tough week, OíHair didnít mind seeing Blanks miss.
ěThere is not one second Iím not feeling like Iím going to just puke,î said OíHair, whose $936,000 winning share was almost triple his season earnings coming into the week, and vaulted him up 104 places in the FedEx Cup playoff standings to 43rd with five weeks left in the race.
John Daly shot 72 to finish in a four-way tie for ninth at 280 ó his first top-10 in six years ó with current Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, amateur sensation Patrick Cantley, and Spencer Levin, who all closed with 69s.
Despite his over-par finish, Daly said he was taking lots of positives away.
ěA ton,î Daly said. ěIn the past I would have shot an 80 or 82 today.î
Canadian Adam Hadwin, a local playing on a sponsorís exemption, struggled early before bouncing back late to finish with a 72 and tied with Australian Geoff Ogilvy (70) for fourth at 2-under. Hadwin, in his second year on the third-tier Canadian Tour, was 5-over after a four-putt double bogey on the par-3 8th and another bogey on the tough par-4 11th, but birdied his next three holes. The 23-year-old failed to end a 57-year drought for Canadians at their national Open, but did earn another PGA Tour start at next weekís Greenbrier Classic.
ěI felt like I was playing for my country out there … brought it back and gave them something to cheer about,î said Hadwin. ěI ll catch a flight tomorrow. I ve got celebrating to do tonight.î
NOTES: Ernie Els had the best round of day, a 66 that vaulted him into a tie for 17th in a group that also included world No. 1 Luke Donald (67). Elsí best finish since March moved him to 131 in the FedEx Cup standings, while Donald moved up one spot to fifth. … Third-round leader Bo Van Pelt was still atop the leaderboard at 5-under at the turn, but played the next five holes at 4 over to finish in a tie for sixth with Scott Piercy (69) and Woody Austin (68).
The Associated Press
07/24/11 20:51