O’Hair captures Canadian crown

Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Sean O’Hair turned around the worst week of his most trying golf season on an even tougher golf course.

Not even he imagined it was possible just four days ago.

Coming off a frustratingly close missed cut at the British Open, and in the midst of his worst season on the PGA Tour, O’Hair “played horrific” in Wednesday’s Pro-Am on the eve of the Canadian Open.

All of which made him savor the victory four days later that much more.

O’Hair won after tapping in for bogey on the first playoff hole Sunday, and then watching fellow American Kris Blanks lip out his bogey putt from just more than 5 feet. It was the fourth PGA Tour victory for O’Hair, but his first since 2009 and first top-15 during a season in which he’s missed 10 of 17 cuts coming in.

“Wednesday night was my worst point of the whole year,” O’Hair said. “I was lost on Wednesday. To be sitting here, I just really appreciate this win.”

The 29-year-old didn’t see any irony in ending his slump at the Canadian Open in a season in which he’s already fired a couple of Canadians — swing coach Sean Foley, who also now works with Tiger Woods, and caddy Brennan Little. He had plenty of praise for both, but did find some irony in how the week played out.

“It is ironic that I’m sitting here after Wednesday and how I felt, and to be holding this trophy is unbelievable,” said O’Hair, adding he the breakthrough started after reading the Bible later that night. “I ve been holding on so tight and trying to do it forcefully. Finally I just said ’You know what, it’s time for me to just let go and whatever happens, happens.’ ”

It worked on a course that punished anyone who tried to force things.

O’Hair started three shots off the lead before shooting 68 to get into a playoff with Blanks (70) at 4-under 276. It was the second-highest winning total on the PGA Tour this season, and the first non-major without a bogey-free round since 2008. Only eight players finished under par on the tree-lined Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club, so it was perhaps fitting it was won with a bogey.