Pettersson rallies to take Canadian Open
Had you asked him on Friday if he was going to win the Canadian Open, Carl Pettersson might have laughed at you.
The 32-year-old Swede sat on the cusp of Friday night’s cut-list and well back of leader Dean Wilson, who had shot consecutive 65s through the first two rounds at the tree-lined St George’s course.
“I walked into the clubhouse and Jay Williamson had all the cut scenarios written out, and he’s like, ‘grab a beer’ and before you know it, I’d had seven and made the cut.”
Seven beers or not, Pettersson turned his fortunes around on Saturday, shooting a tournament record 10-under 60 en route to a 14-under 266 and his fourth PGA tour victory and first place cheque for US$918,000
“It’s unbelievable. I still can’t believe I won the tournament.”
Unbelievable is right. Even with the course record on Saturday – Pettersson almost netted a 59 had he not narrowly missed a 30-foot birdie putt – he sat six strokes behind Wilson after seven and four back with only six to play.
Enter a clutch short game.
While Wilson struggled to find his form on the 12th and 14th holes, leaving a chip short in both instances and having to settle for bogey, Pettersson drained a 15-foot birdie putt on the 13th to pull within one, then a 25 footer from the fringe on the 14th to take the lead. His string of birdies continued on the 15th – making it four in five holes – as he pulled away and closed out the day with a 67 and one-shot victory over Wilson.
“I paid the price," said Wilson. "When you get it in that rough, it's just really tough to judge chipping what it's going to do out of there. Carl had a good shot in there and rolled in a 25 or 30-footer, so it was a big swing."
A big swing that turned into a big loss for the Hawaii native. Wilson, who entered the $5.1M tournament on a sponsor’s exemption, has been struggling to rediscover his swing since winning the 2006 International and was looking to secure his tour card for two more years with the win. The second place finish is his best since the 2006 victory.
Pettersson too had been dealing with his fair share of swing troubles. After turning into one of the most consistent players on tour, his mechanics left him after he lost 30 pounds last season.
“I guess the timing of the swing and everything was thrown out,” said Pettersson of his troubles last year. “You start to question yourself: Am I good enough to play? Am I ever going to win again?” I was feeling that again coming up to this last hole [so] this is the most important win for me.”
Pettersson entered the tournament as the 207th-ranked golfer in the world and toppled a field that included eight players inside the top 30. He joins Chez Reavie (2008) and Nathan Green (2009) as recent longshots who have taken home victories at the tour’s Canadian stop.
Low Canadian
Adam Hadwin finished out the tournament as the low Canadian by hitting an approach within inches on the 72nd hole to thunderous applause.
The Abbotsford, BC native, who finished tied for 37th, says he was overwhelmed by the reception he received and was happy to have justified the exemption he earned through the Canadian tours money list.
“I didn’t really know what to think,” said Hadwin. “It was an amazing feeling. The fans have sort of taken me in as the Canadian favorite this week and I can’t thank them enough for that.”
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