Clark’s closing 65 wrestles Canadian Open from Furyk

Graeme McDowell finishes tied ninth

Tim Clark of South Africa reacts after making a par putt to win the RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club on Sunday, in  Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Photograph:  Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Tim Clark of South Africa reacts after making a par putt to win the RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club on Sunday, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Photograph: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

South Africa's Tim Clark shot a final-day 65 to snatch a victory away from Jim Furyk at the Canadian Open and earn his second PGA title.

Furyk led by three shots going into the last round as he sought a third Canadian Open crown but the veteran American could only card a one-under-par 69 to open the door to nearest challenger Clark at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

And the 38-year-old took full advantage with a five-under round that saw him come back in just 30 – thanks to a superb spell of putting – to finish on a 17-under total of 263, equalling the tournament record, and one shot clear of Furyk.

Clark had a poor start to the rain-affected final day with a bogey on the par-four first, but he cancelled that out on the sixth to reach the turn in level par, before hitting a hot streak that brought him further birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th.

Furyk, champion in 2006 and 2007, could not compete with that, managing his only back-nine birdie on the penultimate hole as Clark added the Canadian Open title to his triumph at The Players Championship in 2002.

Graeme McDowell finished with a two under par 68 to leave him on nine under for tied 9th place.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered to your phone