Hole in one helps Furyk win Canadian Open

TORONTO: Jim Furyk, buoyed by a hole-in-one, fired a seven-under 64 to retain his Canadian Open crown on Sunday.

Furyk played his first 10 holes in 5-under-par and finished with a 16-under total of 268 and a one-stroke victory against Vijay Singh in the $US5 million tournament.

Singh, the overnight leader, had a chance to force a playoff with a 6m putt for birdie at 18 but it broke under the hole, leaving Singh to settle for par. He carded a 68 for 269.

"I had my chances, but I couldn't get it going on the front nine," Singh said. "I had a chance on the last, but Jim played well. Anyone who shoots seven-under on the last day is deserving."

Furyk posted his first victory of the season and first since he won this title last year.

Singh won the Canadian Open in 2004 when he edged local favorite Mike Weir in a playoff.

Birdies at the first and third got Furyk going in the right direction and his ace at the par-three fourth pushed him into the lead. He added a birdie at 10 to get to 14-under.

"Well, it was a dream start really, to get out - to start the day at three back, I have a lot of respect for Vijay and his game, and I expected him to fire a pretty good number today," Furyk said. "So to get off to a good jump I thought was key."

Singh, who entered the final round with a one-shot lead, was at 11-under after eight pars and a bogey on the front nine.

Both Furyk and Singh started the back nine with three consecutive birdies. Furyk was eight-under for his round after a birdie at the 15th but he opened the door for Singh with a bogey on 18.

Singh had 150m left on his approach into 18 and he fired an eight-iron right over the top of the flag to about 7m. He missed the putt and Furyk, who was watching Singh play the hole from behind the green, earned $US900,000 for his 13th PGA Tour title.

AFP

(China Daily 07/31/2007 page24)