Furyk's ace highlights another Canadian Open win

Golf Betting Lines

07/30/2007 - Markham, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After making a 211-yard hole-in-one, Jim Furyk was almost done in by a five-foot putt.

Luckily for him, Vijay Singh couldn't make a 23-footer.

Furyk aced the fourth hole Sunday to take the lead at the Canadian Open, then hung on to win the tournament for the second year in a row despite closing with a bogey on the 18th hole.

He backed off a five-foot par putt at 18, then missed it on the right edge to cut his lead over Singh to just one shot. Moments later, with Furyk waiting greenside, Singh couldn't convert on a long, curling birdie try for the tie.

Furyk closed with a seven-under 64 at Angus Glen, a spotless and sparkling round until the final blemish -- only his first bogey in 35 holes.

"I tried to make it interesting," said Furyk, who ended at 16-under 268 to become the first back-to-back winner at the Canadian Open since Jim Ferrier in 1950-51.

He won $900,000 for his 13th career PGA Tour title.

Singh, the overnight leader by a shot, managed just a three-under 68 in the final round to finish a stroke behind at 15-under 269. It was the 11th time in 28 tries that the Fijian was unable to capitalize on a 54-hole lead.

George McNeill holed out for an eagle from a greenside bunker at the 15th and closed with a five-under 66 to share third place with Ryan Palmer, who shot a 66. They came in at 13-under 271.

Bob Heintz and Hunter Mahan finished another shot further back at 272.

Furyk aced the 211-yard fourth with a five-iron, his fourth hole-in-one in competition on the PGA Tour. The ball took a soft bounce off the fringe on the front-right side of the green and rolled about 30 feet into the cup.

It gave him a sudden two-shot lead, which he would have to fight to maintain.

Furyk made three straight birdies to open the back nine, but so did Singh. The Fijian rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the 12th to remain within two shots of the lead, but he squandered a chance to get within one when he missed a six-foot birdie putt at the 14th.

It was a costly miss.

Ahead at the 15th, Furyk extended his lead to three shots after chipping to seven feet from the tall grass around the green -- a tough up-and-down birdie that may have clinched the championship for him.

Mahan made the second of back-to-back birdies at the 15th to pull within two shots, and Singh joined him there with a five-foot birdie at the 16th.

Still, all Furyk really had to do was avoid disaster at the 18th, which he did by safely playing his second shot to the left side of the green -- wanting nothing to do with the pond to the right.

But after rolling the long putt within five feet, Furyk backed off his par try, adjusted, and then missed it on the right edge.

The closing bogey left Singh with a good opportunity to tie with a birdie at the 18th. He sent his approach directly over the pin and into the middle of the green, but didn't come close on the downhill putt.

Singh was seeking his 20th win since turning 40 four years ago.

Furyk, one of the steadiest players in the world, finally has another win after waiting a full year. He entered the tournament having posted six consecutive top-25 finishes, including four top-fives.

"It was a special day," said Furyk, who had two runner-ups already this season, the last coming at the U.S. Open. "I just feel like a million dollars."

Stephen Ames, a naturalized Canadian, led the home challenge with a seven- under 277 total to tie for 27th place. Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion was two shots further back after closing with a 71.

"I thought I was going to shoot a good score today," Weir said. "I couldn't get anything going. It was just one of those days."

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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