Singh overcomes Weir for play-off win

Mike Weir was about to become the first Canadian golfer to win his national championship in 50 years - but Vijay Singh had other ideas.

The new number one player in the world, Singh backed up that lofty status with a play-off victory over Weir to capture the Bell Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Singh tapped in for par on the third play-off hole, the par-five 18th, culminating a three-shot comeback and putting a cap on an impressive string of golf.

Aside from toppling Tiger Woods as the top-ranked golfer, Singh has won the PGA Championship, the Deutsche Bank Championship and now the Canadian Open, raking in more than £1.5m (€2.2m) in the process.

As high as Singh in riding, Weir must be about as low. Playing in his native Canada among cheering fans at every turn, Weir entered the final round with a three-stroke lead over Singh, was up three shots after a birdie on the par-four 10th and still held a two-shot lead with three to play.

“For whatever reason, I could never get comfortable on the greens,” Weir said.

“I am disappointed, not only for myself, but obviously for everybody who was out there supporting me. You know, I think maybe in the end I was just trying too hard.”

“I really do feel for Mike,” Singh said. “Towards the end, they were really cheering for Mike. I hope they did not get to him, but in my mind, they must have affected him one way or another.”

Singh was more steady than spectacular on the back nine, while Weir made mistakes that ultimately cost him the tournament. He bogeyed the 11th, 13th and 16th holes and missed a birdie putt on 18 by inches to the right.

That allowed Singh, who birdied 18, another chance in a play-off.

“On this golf course anything can happen,” said Singh, who improved to 5-1 in play-offs.

“If you miss one shot, you can get yourself into trouble, especially with the rough so long.”

Both golfers birdied the first extra hole, the 18th, after missing eagle putts. After Weir missed a five-foot par putt that would have given him the title on 17, Singh ripped a drive down the middle of the 18th fairway while Weir found the deep rough and had to punch out into the right fairway.

With Singh laying two just off the right edge of the green, Weir lofted his third shot to the right of the green and into the water. Singh two-putted from four feet for par and his seventh victory of the season.

“I never one time thought I was out of it,” Singh said. “Even at 18, I thought if I can make eagle it would be great, but I have to make birdie.”

While Weir and Singh were battling for the title, Justin Rose vaulted from a tie for 34th to a tie for fourth with an eight-under 63 as he joined Tom Lehman, who jumped 26 spots with a seven-under 64

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Phil Mickelson didn’t quite have the Ryder Cup warm-up he was looking for, finishing tied for 57th.