Jhonattan Vegas birdied nine holes Sunday to survive a crowded leaderboard at the Canadian Open to win his second PGA Tour event.
What a difference a week makes.
PGA TOUR: Winners of 2015-16 season | Winners dating back to 2000
Vegas floundered on the weekend at last week's Barracuda Championship after shooting a second-round 60, but he moved up 14 spots during the final round in Ontario, Canada after shooting an 8-under 64 to finish at 12 under.
Vegas got his final round kick-started with five straight birdies spanning Holes 2 through 6. He then birdied his last three holes to post a score no one else could match.
The Canadian Open is one of the most dramatic and entertaining tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule because Glen Abbey Golf Course features three par 5s on its last six holes. Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who finished in a tie for ninth at 9 under, exemplified this when he shot a 9-under 63 Sunday with two eagles on his last three holes.
Vegas patiently waited close to an hour after concluding his round, waiting to see if he would be forced to battle in a playoff. But when Brandt Snedeker's eagle chip from the bunker on 18 stayed in the sand, Vegas and his team were able to celebrate his accomplishment that earned him a spot on next week's PGA Championship.
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“It’s a fun feeling," Vegas said on CBS after his round. "This is what we train for and this is what we spend every moment preparing for. From where I started this year, not having full status, to winning and everything that comes with it… I just have to thank God for it."
Dustin Johnson, the world's second-ranked player, made a late charge with an eagle on 16 and a birdie on 18, but he was forced to settle for a tie for second at 11 under with super rookie Jon Rahm and Martin Laird.
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Despite battling bronchitis, Canadian amateur Jared du Toit finished in a tie for ninth at 9 under in his first professional event. After a rough start Sunday, he birdied three of his last eight holes to shoot a 1-under 71.
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Snedeker, who started the final round with a one-shot lead, shot a disappointing 1-under 71 in Round 4 to settle for a tie for fifth at 10 under.
Jason Day concluded his week with a 5-under 67 to sneak into a tie for 14th at 7 under.