Golf: ‘Small Unit’ Reavie captures Canadian Open
Published 11:50 pm Sunday, July 27, 2008
OAKVILLE, Ontario — Chez Reavie, proudly sporting an Arizona Diamondbacks logo on his light blue shirt, won the Canadian Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, closing with a 1-under 70 in near-perfect conditions for a three-stroke victory over Billy Mayfair.
“Oh, man. I’m just so excited,” Reavie said. “I don’t think a lot of people understand when you’re growing up and you’re practicing and you’re working so hard, this is, obviously, your goal. But there are no guarantees.”
At a generously listed 5 feet 9 inches, the 26-year-old former Arizona State player was nicknamed the Small Unit in a joking reference to Randy Johnson, the 6-foot-10 Diamondbacks pitcher known as the Big Unit.
Also in contrast to Johnson, Reavie relies on finesse rather than power. The short-hitter was on the mark in the wire-to-wire win at rain-softened Glen Abbey, hitting 44 of 56 fairways and 54 of 72 greens in regulation. The accurate play was a big factor, with the players allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways all four days.
“It was crucial to hit fairways so you could lift and clean your ball and place it in a good lie, especially when you don’t hit it as far as some of the other guys do,” Reavie said. “So, it really played into my hands.
“It was like the U.S. Open out there. The rough was long and the greens were tough. I guess that’s a good, style of golf for me, putting a premium on hitting fairways.”
Playing for the sixth straight week, Reavie finished at 17-under 267. He earned $900,000 and spots in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship the next two weeks along with the 2009 Masters.
After entering the week with career earnings of $746,414 in 27 PGA Tour starts and 52 Nationwide Tour events, he was amazed when told that he had made $900,000.
“How much? $900,000. That’s unbelievable, really,” the 26-year-old PGA Tour rookie said. “Yeah, wow! That’s all I can say is wow to that.”
Mayfair, also a former Arizona State player, shot a 68.
“He’s a good kid and a hard worker,” Mayfair said. “I’m really happy for him.”
EVIAN MASTERS: Helen Alfredsson won her first LPGA Tour title in five years, defeating rookie Na Yeon Choi in a playoff in Evian-les-Bains, France.
The 43-year-old Swede made a three-foot birdie in the third round of the playoff at the par-5 18th, while the 20-year-old Choi, of South Korea, parred the hole.
SENIOR BRITISH OPEN: Bruce Vaughan won on the first playoff hole, sinking a 20-foot putt to beat John Cook in Troon, Scotland.
Cook lost a three-stroke lead over the final eight holes, including a bogey on No. 18 when he put his tee shot in the rough and finished with an even-par 71 and a total of 6-under 278.
Playing No. 18 again in the playoff, Vaughan holed his putt and Cook missed from 12 feet.
