Jason Day birdied the final three holes en route to a four-under 68 to capture the Canadian Open, holding off David Hearn and Bubba Watson in a final-round shoot-out on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Australian drained a 21-foot birdie putt on 18 to finish at 17-under 271 and beat two-time Masters champion Watson (69) by one stroke in the $5.8 million USPGA Tour event.
"There is no better feeling than coming down the wire and contending with these guys. It was back and forth all day," said Day. "This is the fourth win of my career and I am so proud to be the Canadian Open champion."
Crowd-favourite Hearn shot an even-par 72 and finished alone in third place, two strokes back of Day as he just missed out becoming the first Canadian to win the tournament in 61 years.
American Watson also closed with a string of back-nine birdies at the Glen Abbey Golf Club, rolling in four straight as both he and Day vaulted past third-round leader Hearn, who led for most of Sunday's round.
Day, who was coming off a tie for fourth at the British Open, becomes the third Australian to win the event, joining Greg Norman (1984 and 1992) and Nathan Green (2009).
Day rolled in a 12-foot putt for birdie on the par-four 17th to take the lead from Hearn at 16-under, and then sealed the win in emphatic style with his 20-footer on the 72nd hole.
"I am so glad I got that putt in. It just feels so good right now," Day said. "I am going to soak it in as much as possible."
Watson had a chance to force a playoff on 18 but his eagle effort from just off the green on 18 missed left.
Hearn, who was hoping to become the first Canuck to win the Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954, saw his birdie putt at the final hole rim out, costing him a share of second place.
"I didn't quite pull it off but I still gave myself a chance with three or four holes to go," said Hearn.
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