Jason Day Birdies Final Three Holes To Win Canadian Open
- Dan Hauser
- 27 Jul, 2015
Last Monday, Jason Day missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have put him into the playoff at The Open Championship.
Fast forward six days, and Day found himself in a similar situation. On the 72nd hole with a one shot lead and the final group of the day on the tee, Day found himself overlooking a birdie putt that would give him a two shot lead and likely secure the title.
This time, his putt didn’t come up short and he went on to win the RBC Canadian Open by one shot over Bubba Watson.
“I got the ball to the hole this time,” said Day who birdied his final three holes on his way to victory.
Day spoiled what seemed like was set up to be a historic day in Canadian history. The last Canadian born player to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954. David Hearn entered the final round with a one shot lead and looking to end that 0-for-61 year streak. Instead, Day went on a late birdie run, birdying his final three holes to get the win.
“It was one focused mindset the whole day today to do something really special and win the tournament,” Hearn said. “It hasn’t been done in a long time, and I felt like I had the ability to do it today. I gave it my all. I didn’t quite have my best game.”
“I’m really proud of the way I played and I’m really proud to be Canadian today,” he added. “It was a pretty special day with all of the fans and the support that I had from beginning to finish.”
For Day, he said that he felt right at home at Glen Abbey.
“I’ve never felt so much at home, and I’m not even from Canada,” Day said. “I’m looking forward to coming back and defending the title here next year because I know that when I get here next year it’s going to be the same. It’s great to feel like a Canadian for a week.”
For Canadian fans though, they will have to wait at least one more year before a Canadian player actually wins. If you ask fourth place finisher Jim Furyk though, it’s going to happen soon.
“It’s only a matter of time,” Furyk said. “There are so many good Canadian platers. I feel bad Mike Weir never won this golf tournament. But, Graham DeLeaet, David, there are a bunch of fine young players, so I’m sure it’s going to happen.”
Hearn can hang his head on the fact that he was the first Canadian to hold a 54-hole lead at the Canadian Open since Weir in 2004, when he lost to Vijay Singh in a playoff.
For Day, this win is a culmination of a month long battle with not just the elements, but his own health as well. In addition to his miss on the 72nd hole last week at the Open, Day also suffered from Vertigo during last month’s U.S. Open. He let it all out on the 72nd green at Glen Abbey after what turned out to be the winning putt.
“This must feel like what Tiger Woods did for so many times, and it feels good,” Day said. “I’m going to try and do as much as I can and keep it the same and try and win.”
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.
