Jason Day wins Canadian Open, beats Canada’s David Hearn and Bubba Watson

Jason Day (Photo from Wikipedia/Keith Allison)

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Jason Day birdied his final three holes to overtake Canada’s David Hearn and win the RBC Canadian Open.

Day shot a 4-under 68 Sunday to get to 17 under for the tournament. A birdie on the 18th hole sealed the victory.

“This must feel like what Tiger did for so many times, and it feels good,” Day said. “I’m going to try to do as much as I can and keep it the same and try and win.”

Bubba Watson was second at 16 under, while Hearn was third at 15 under.

“I gave it my all, I didn’t quite have my best game,” Hearn said.

Hearn was looking to be the first Canadian to win the event since Pat Fletcher in 1954.

“He was playing so good. He started off hot,” Watson said of Hearn. “He putts unbelievable. There was so many putts that he hit that should’ve fell in. I don’t know how they stayed out.”

“For him and Canada, that would’ve been a great story. That would’ve been his first win. How amazing would that have been?”

The Brantford, Ont., native went into Sunday with a two-shot lead over Watson, the world’s third-ranked player, and Day, ranked ninth. Hearn’s entrance to the first tee drew a roar from the crowd.

“I’m real proud of the way I played and I’m really proud to be Canadian today,” Hearn said. “It was a pretty special day with all of the fans and the support that I had from beginning to finish.”

Despite missing with his tee shots, Hearn birdied the first two holes to go up by three. Bogeys on holes 3 and 7 put Hearn into some predictable trouble, given how well Watson and Day had been playing on the back nine.

Hearn missed birdie putts on 8 and 9 by centimetres, drawing loud “Aws” from the Canadian crowd.

Day was consistent on the back nine and turned his game up with birdies on 16, 17 and 18. Watson went on a roll to catch up as Hearn faltered.

Lamenting Day’s incredible finish and long birdie putt on 18, Watson pointed out that caddie Ted Scott worked for Grant Waite when he lost to Tiger Woods at the 2000 Canadian Open on arguably the best shot of the legendary golfer’s career.

“They finished second to a great play, and I finished second to a great play,” Watson said.

Hearn holed an 18-foot birdie putt on No. 13, but birdie misses on 14 and 16 ultimately kept him from tying Day. His shot into the bunker on 18 was the end.

As he left his news conference, Hearn said next year will be the 62nd for questions about Fletcher. Fourth-place finisher Jim Furyk doesn’t expect the drought to last forever.

“It’s a matter of time,” Furyk said. “There are so many good Canadian players. I feel bad Mike Weir never won this golf tournament. But Graham DeLaet, David, there are a bunch of fine young players, so I’m sure it’s going to happen.”