Furyk's Ace Propels Him To Canadian Win

MARKHAM, Ontario — Jim Furyk successfully defended his Canadian Open title when Vijay Singh missed a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

The 209-yard, par-3 fourth was just as important in the outcome. Furyk took the lead there yesterday with a hole-in-one and played it in 5-under par for the week, while Singh bogeyed it and was 3 over in four rounds.

"Eight strokes, that's a huge turnaround on one hole," Furyk said. "It's pretty special to play the hole 5 under on the week. You usually do that on a par 5 and rarely or never see that on a par 3. A pretty darn good hole, too. It's not like a wedge or a 9-iron shot."

Furyk, the winner last year at traditional Hamilton Golf and Country Club, finished with a 7-under 64 for a one-stroke victory. He had a 16-under 268 total on Angus Glen's links-style North Course.

With the victory, Furyk's 13th on the PGA Tour and first since last September at Hamilton, he guaranteed the big name-starved event will have at least one top player next year at Glen Abbey.

"I'll be here," Furyk said. "I always think you should come back and defend a championship. ... I felt a lot of support out there."

Three strokes behind Singh after the third round, Furyk birdied two of the first three holes — holing a 35-foot putt on the par-5 first and a 9-footer on the par-4 third — before moving ahead at 13 under with his third career ace.

"You dream of a start like that," Furyk said.