Cauley wins Canadian Open to complete comeback

Canadian Open final leaderboard

-17 B Cauley (US); -15 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -14 V Hovland (Nor)

Selected others: -13 J Stanger (US), B Garnett (US), J Svensson (Swe), J Suber (US); -11 T Fleetwood (Eng); -10 R McIntyre (Sco); -9 A Fitzpatrick (Eng)

Bud Cauley won the Canadian Open to land his first PGA Tour title and complete a remarkable comeback eight years after his career was derailed by a car accident.

The 36-year-old American took the lead with a birdie chip on the 12th hole as he shot a five-under-par 65 in the final round to finish on 17-under 263 in Caledon, Ontario.

It was his 239th tournament on the tour, with the victory a reward for Cauley’s persistence in coming back from severe injuries.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick was two strokes back in second place, with Norway’s Viktor Hovland taking third at 14 under.

In June 2018, Cauley was a passenger in a car when he sustained six broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a fractured left leg.

Although he returned to action four months later, he experienced complications in 2020 which kept him away from the professional tour until 2024.

“There were times when I was hurt that we weren’t really sure if I was going to be able to play again,” Cauley said.

“So many people helped me get here. Once I got the opportunity to start playing again, I just told myself that I was going to try and do everything the right way and give myself the best chance.”

Cauley added: “I put my wife, Kristi, through so much during those dark times. It’s just nice to have a little success as a kind of thank you.”

He started the day one stroke behind leader Jackson Suber but took control on the back nine with four birdies in five holes for a three-shot lead heading into the 16th hole.

Fitzpatrick shot 64 in the fourth round to climb 10 positions on the leaderboard into second, but his title hopes were dashed by a bogey on the 17th hole.

“It’s a good week,” Fitzpatrick said. “I would have taken it at the start of the week. I feel like there was a lot of good stuff in there.

“My putting was a little bit of a struggle last week, and I feel like I got a bit of a better process for what I’m working on this week and that showed. I putted really solid.”