Singh steals win from Weir, Canada

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Sep 13, 2004 | by Doug Ferguson Associated Press

OAKVILLE, Ontario -- Vijay Singh won another dramatic duel and earned another No. 1 ranking -- Public Enemy No. 1 in Canada -- for beating Draper's Mike Weir in a playoff at the Canadian Open and denying the fans a celebration they had been wanting for 50 years.

Don't blame Singh.

Weir had three putts to become the first Canadian in 50 years to win his national title -- a 10-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole, a 25-footer for eagle on No. 18 in the playoff, and a 5-footer on No. 17 at the second playoff hole.

He missed them all and finally ran out of luck.

Weir pulled his tee shot on No. 18 for the third playoff hole, laid up and then hit his approach in the water. Some 25,000 fans let out a collective groan, and gave begrudging applause when Singh three- putted from the fringe for par.

"I feel for Mike," Singh said. "That was the one person I didn't want to beat."

Maybe when the Canadians get over the loss, they'll realize who won their national championship.

Singh closed with a 69 for his seventh victory of the year -- only Tiger Woods (twice), Jack Nicklaus (twice) and Johnny Miller have won that often since 1950.

More importantly for the 41-year-old Fijian, the $810,000 he won Sunday at Glen Abbey gives him just short of $8.7 million for the season, allowing him to close in on Woods' single-season record of $9.1 million.

Despite a sore left knee all week, despite playing the 11th hole in 7 over par, and despite trailing Weir by two shots with three holes to play, Singh again found a way to get it done.

He took over the No. 1 ranking from Woods last week and showed it's in good hands.

Ultimately, however, this will be remembered as one Weir gave away.

The former Masters champion had three-putt bogeys on two of the final six holes -- one of them from 8 feet with a chance to lock up the title -- and he had a chance to win in regulation with a 10-foot birdie that left a major championship-caliber gallery on the edge of its seat.

It turned away on the final roll, leaving Weir with his only round over par all week -- a 1-over 72 -- and both players at 9-under 275.

Joe Ogilvie had a 69 to finish third, two shots behind at 277.