Vegas repeats as Canadian Open champ

Birdie on first hole of playoff beats Hoffman, secures second consecutive victory

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO» Jhonattan Vegas successfully defended his RBC Canadian Open title Sunday at Glen Abbey, beating Charley Hoffman with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

Vegas’ approach from the left bunker on the par-5 18th hit the grass just above the sand lip and still had enough power to clear the water and go through the green.

“When I heard the clip, because obviously I didn’t see it, I knew that it was probably going to go in the water, because I didn’t know exactly how hard it hit it,” Vegas said. “But then when I saw the ball in the air, it was still going really hard and forward.”

The 32-year-old Venezuelan chipped to a foot — after racing a chip past the hole in regulation from the same area en route to a par — and won when Hoffman’s birdie try from the back bunker slid past the hole.

“It’s been a special day,” Vegas said. “I knew that I had to shoot a good round today to have a chance to win again. I just came out with an aggressive mentality, just feeling really good about my game. When I started making a few birdies, especially the putt for birdie on 7, I started feeling the same chills that I felt last year when I won, and I just knew that something good could happen if I kept that going.”

Vegas closed with a 7-under-par 65 to match Hoffman at 21-under 267.

Vegas is paying close attention to the turmoil in Venezuela, where people stayed away from the polls in massive numbers Sunday in a show of protest against a vote to grant President Nicolas Maduro’s ruling socialist party virtually unlimited powers.

South Korean wins Scottish Open.

South Korea’s Lee Mi-hyang staged a remarkable comeback to win the Ladies Scottish Open.

Lee was in 39th place and nine shots off the lead coming into the weekend, but the 24-year-old posted rounds of 68 and 66 to finish 6-under at the Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire.

Karrie Webb looked on track for a victory when she eagled the 14th for a two-stroke lead, but the Australian bogeyed the 16th and double bogeyed the 17th, allowing Lee to win.

Langer sets record with 10th title.

Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer won a record 10th senior major title, cruising to victory in the Senior British Open. Langer posted a 1-over 72 in the final round. He finished at 4-under overall and won the tournament by three strokes.