Monday, July 28, 2014

Tim Clark Wins Canadian Open

Tim Clark poses with the winner's trophy after capturing the Canadian Open at Royal Montreal in Ile Bizard, Que., on Sunday. (David Donnelly/CBC News)

When Jim Furyk's charge to a third RBC Canadian Open title stalled in the final round, Tim Clark decided to go for it.

The 38-year-old South African, whose wife is Canadian, fired five birdies on the back nine to overtake Furyk on the 15th hole and hold on to win the $5.7 US tournament at Royal Montreal on Sunday.

Recovering from a first-hole bogey that put him four shots off the lead, Clark shot a five-under-par 65 to finish at 17-under-par 263 and claim his second career PGA Tour victory and the $1,026-million winner's prize.

"It looked like Jim wasn't going to make any mistakes," said Clark, who had moved into contention with a 64 on Saturday. "He was pretty solid, so I knew I had to make birdies.

"At that point, there was nothing to lose. Suddenly I got hot and I went with it."

It was another frustrating defeat for Furyk, who has now lost seven tournaments in a row in which he led after 54 holes. He went into the final round with a three-stroke cushion but never found traction.

He shot 69 to come second at 16-under 264.

"I kind of controlled my own destiny," said Furyk. "I've got to shoot three or four (under par) and it would have been impossible to catch me, or darn near it.

"I left the door open with even par on the front nine and Tim took advantage and shot 30 on the back."

Furyk has not won since a victory at the 2010 Players Championship that gave him the FedEx Cup title and PGA player of the year honours. He fell short in a bid to join elite company in Tommy Armour, Sam Snead and Lee Trevino by becoming the fourth player to win the Canadian Open three times after his victories in 2006 and 2007.

Instead, it went to the stocky Clark, the long putter user who needed a win after battling elbow trouble in recent years.

The win moved him from 85th to 27th in FedEX Cup standings and gave him entry into next week's World Golf Championship event in Akron, Ohio and into the PGA championship. He also gets fully exempt status on the PGA Tour through the 2015-16 season.

While Graham DeLaet's bid to became the first Canadian to win his national open in 60 years fell short, the trophy went to a player with connections, and a history, in Canada.

Clark's wife Candice is from Toronto and has family in Montreal. He won his first professional tournament at the New Brunswick Open on the Canadian Tour in 1998 and followed a week later with a win at the CPGA Championship.

"The irony of it is Canada could be the location of my first win and my last one," he said. "To come back here, it's full circle.

"That was 16 years ago when I was just cutting my teeth as a professional golfer and I was fortunate enough to be given some starts up here, so I have fond memories.

"It's certainly one I've wanted to win for a long time. Any national championship to me is special. particularly to the people from that country. It's an honor for me to be the open champion."

 

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