Right On the Number: Pettersson's Fiesty Canadian Comeback

It takes some serious guts to be able to win on the PGA Tour four times.  Carl Pettersson has now done that with his win in the Canadian Open on Sunday.  Pettersson made the cut on the number, but faced potential elimination after Saturday's third round under the PGA Tour's Rule 78.  

If 78 or more players make the 36 hole cut, a second cut to a field closest to 70 is made after the third round. John Daly turned in 73 to get the infamous MDF distinction - a casualty of Rule 78, along with four other players.

Obviously, Pettersson eliminated all doubt about his place for the weekend by playing the final fourteen holes on Saturday in eleven under par.  He posted 60 with two eagles, maybe spooked Dean Wilson in the process, and positioned himself for a Sunday charge.  

Still, sponsor exemption Dean Wilson had a four stroke lead entering the final round at St. George's.  The 40 year old appeared poised to take his second PGA Tour title (The International in '07 being the other).

Pettersson started anxiously with two early bogeys.  But the Redneck Swede found his groove in the middle of the round.  Six birdies in eight holes got him into position for the win as Wilson could never get anything going.  With just a single birdie on the card against three dropped shots, Wilson would have to settle for second place, an invitation to play this week in West Virginia, and wonder what could have been.

The nature of the win is pretty remarkable for Pettersson.  Add to it that this is the second time in '10 that a player has made the cut on the number and then won the golf tournament.  Rory McIlroy did so in Charlotte before his final round 62 earned his first stateside win.  A trend toward unstable leads on Tour - and the glaring omission of Americans from the winner's circle - could really be the telling story of 2010.