Mike Weir became the first Canadian to win a US PGA Tour event on home soil for 45 years yesterday when he captured the Air Canada Championship in Vancouver. Overcoming a persistent drizzle, Weir recorded his first career victory and earned the first-place purse of £300,000.
He closed with a seven-under-par 64, including an eagle two at the 14th, to finish with an 18-under total of 266.
Fred Funk, the third-round leader who began the day at 13 under, made a late charge with four birdies on the back nine but his 68 left him two strokes back in second.
Paraguay's Carlos Franco, a two-time winner in his first season on the PGA Tour, closed with a 69 to finish third at 270.
Weir, a 29-year-old left-hander, is the first Canadian to win on tour since Richard Zokol in the 1992 Greater Milwaukee Open. Pat Fletcher is the last Canadian to win on home soil, doing so in the 1954 Canadian Open at Vancouver's Point Grey course.
"I think it'll hit me later on. I'm just in shock, actually," said Weir, who was 14 under over the final two rounds.
