The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
In a thrilling finish at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Bob Tway defeated Brad Faxon on a third playoff hole to win the 2003 Bell Canadian Open, conducted by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. Both Tway (66) and Faxon (67) made their way up the leaderboard on a final day that saw six different golfers hold at least a share of the lead. For the second consecutive year, a playoff would ultimately determine Canada's national champion, this time with Tway and Faxon at eight-under-par heading back to the 18th tee for a sudden-death playoff. The first playoff hole saw both players sink their par putts on 18 and head back to the 17th hole for a second playoff battle. Faxon appeared to have the win locked on 17 but missed a four-foot putt for birdie to head back to 18 again, the most challenging hole of the championship. After both players put their drives into the rough, Faxon thinned his five-iron into a tough lie, allowing Tway to lay-up and play safe. Faxon's third shot landed past the green while Tway chipped out of a greenside bunker to the middle of the green. Faxon would ultimately two-putt for double-bogey allowing Tway, with his only bogey of the day, to win the title and the US $756,000 winner's cheque. Carrying the hopes of Canadian golf fans in the final round, Mike Weir shot a 69 to finish at three-under-par in 10th position, his best finish ever in the 13 Bell Canadian Opens he's played in.
