Ryder Cup wild card Scott Verplank shot a final round three-under-par 67 to win the Canadian Open by three shots at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. It seemed like Verplank would cruise to victory before he took a six at the par-four 16th hole, allowing old friend Bob Estes to creep within a shot.
But Verplank showed great resilience to come through. Shortly after Estes closed his round with a bogey at the par-four 18th, Verplank birdied the par-three 17th for a three-shot cushion. After missing the 18th fairway with his drive, he saved par with a 25-foot putt to seal victory. Verplank admitted afterwards: "I played really nice, up until a couple of those little shaky moments. But sometimes you're supposed to win. Sometimes you get the breaks and you win."
It was the fifth career title and second in just over a year for Verplank, the 1998 comeback player of the year who has overcome a serious elbow injury and diabetes to become one of the best golfers in the world.
Filed by Shane Murray
