Pettersson makes it two wins for Sweden
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Canadian Open | Round Four | 26 Jul 2010
Just a few hours after his fellow countryman Richard S. Johnson had won the Scandinavian Masters on the European Tour, Carl Pettersson won his fourth PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open at the St Georges Golf and Country Club near Toronto.
Pettersson followed up his stunning course record breaking third round of 60 with a round of 67 today to catch and pass the four shot third round leader Dean Wilson. Pettersson had only just squeezed inside the cutline on Friday by holing a ten footer at his 36th hole but his round of 60 on Saturday, which amazingly included an early bogey, had him right back in the thick of things heading into today’s final round.
Wilson had the tournament to win or lose with nine holes to play. At that point he still led by four but a great back nine surge by Pettersson and a stumble by Wilson turned the tournament around.
Pettersson was able to bogey the last and still win by one over Wilson with Luke Donald finishing one shot further back in third position.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Pettersson after the win.
“I still can’t believe I won the tournament. It was fun. My other wins I’ve led starting the day and led the whole back nine, so this is the first win I’ve had coming from behind. And it was a different feeling, and it was very enjoyable.”
“I had a really poor year last year,” he added responding to a question regarding his emotions following the victory. "I’ve been fairly successful out here. I’ve had it, I wouldn’t say easy. I worked hard for it. I played straight out of college, and I got on the European Tour, played there. I won there. Got on the U. S. tour, had three wins really early in my career and finished in the Top 30 most years on the Money List, right around Top 30.
And last year my game left me. And, you know, you start questioning yourself if you’re good enough to play, and am I ever going to win again. And yeah, I was feeling it coming up the last hole. I knew anything could happen, but it was a special — most important win for me coming back after last year playing so poorly."
Sharing 4th was a huge group of nine players including Australian Greg Chalmers whose bogey at the last cost him US$80,000, the difference between outright 4th and a nine way tie. Still, for Chalmers, it further highlights a return to the level of golf that saw him finish 4th at the PGA Championship in 1999 and record runner up finishes in two other PGA Tour events. His round of 65 was the equal best of the day.
Chalmers is now almost assured of retaining full playing privileges in 2011 irrespective of what happens between now and the end of the season.
James Nitties, defending champion Nathan Green, Stuart Appleby and Matt Jones were the next best of the Australians in 37th position.
The PGA Tour will now move south to White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia for the Greenbrier Classic.
