Vegas retains Canadian Open title with playoff victory

F 1

In the midst of his title defense, Vegas said he’d been keeping an eye on the turmoil in Venezuela, where deadly violence marred elections to choose members of a powerful assembly that President Nicolas Maduro has tasked with writing a new constitution.

“It’s always on my mind,” the US-based golfer said.

“I have family that live there. It’s my country of birth. It hurts a lot, seeing the country the way it is, seeing a government that treats people that way when they don’t deserve it just to remain in power.”

But Vegas was able to keep his mind on the job, and closed with a seven-under par 65 to overtake third-round leader Hoffman.

Hoffman was on the green in two at 18 in regulation, needing an eagle to win. He finished with a birdie that capped a 68 and forced the playoff.

Vegas, who started the round three shots off the lead, had powered up the leaderboard with six birdies in his first 11 holes.

He had taken the lead with a birdie at 16, but couldn’t find a birdie that would have given him more of a cushion at the par-five finishing hole.

England’s Ian Poulter was alone in third after firing eight birdies in his eight-under 64 for 268.

American Gary Woodland carded a final-round 68 for 269. Leading final-round scores on Sunday from the US PGA Tour Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario (x-wins at first playoff hole, USA unless noted, par-72):

267 - x-Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 66-69-67-65, Charley Hoffman 68-66-65-68

268 - Ian Poulter (ENG) 67-6968-64

269 68-68

270 - Brandon Hagy 65-68-6968, Tony Finau 69-67-66-68, Robert Garrigus 70-69-62-69 271 - Dustin Johnson 67-69-6867, Kevin Chappell 65-69-66-71 - Gary Woodland 70-63-

272 - Sean O’Hair 69-68-70-65, Seamus Power (IRL) 68-70-68-66, James Hahn 66-73-67-66, Andres Gonzales 67-69-66-70

273 - Keegan Bradley 67-69-7265, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 66-68-71-68, J. B. Holmes 67- 70- 68- 68, C. T. Pan ( THA) 72- 66- 67- 68, Matt Every 65-68-70-70

274 - Kramer Hickok 67-71-67- 69, Martin Flores 66-66-72-70, Tyrone Van Aswegen (RSA) 66-7067-71, Sam Saunders 68-67-67-72

275 - Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 6967-71-68, Chez Reavie 67-69-6970, Harold Varner 69-65-69-72, Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 70-66-67-72

276 - David Lingmerth (SWE) 6770-68-71, Nick Watney 68-69-68-71, Smylie Kaufman 66-71-68-71