The top-ranked player in the Canadian Open walked away with the championship on Sunday after posting a 5-under 65 to put a crowded leaderboard behind him.

Furyk started the day two strokes behind third-round leader Justin Rose and found himself in first place early on the back nine thanks to a hot putter on a cold, windy day at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

``Along seven and eight I started hitting the ball really well and really played flawless on the back nine,'' Furyk told CTV. ``I'm really happy with the way I played today.''

The 36-year-old finished at 14-under 266, one stroke ahead of Bart Bryant and two better than Sean O'Hair, who carded a 68.

``The best player won the tournament today,'' said Bryant. ``There's not too many guys playing better than Jim Furyk right now.

``It doesn't surprise me at all that he shot 5-under out there on a tough day. It was a pretty tough golf course today, it really was.''

It was Furyk's second victory of the season and the 12th of his career.

``There's a lot of great names on that trophy,'' he said. ``And I'm proud to win it here at this golf course because it's a really good golf course.''

He fired the best round of the day and the most important stroke may have been his last one. Furyk had a five-footer for par on the final hole and backed off it three times before knocking it in to maintain a two-shot cushion.

That left only Bryant with a chance to catch him. The 43-year-old made a birdie on No. 17 but was unable to pick up another stroke at the tough final hole and had to settle for a 3-under 67 and second place.

Rose had a tough day. He shot a 4-over 74 and ended up tied for 14th at 7-under.

Furyk walked off the course carrying his two-year-old son Tanner and holding hands with his four-year-old daughter Caleigh before heading to the driving range to prepare for a possible playoff. When Bryant failed to catch him, Furyk returned to No. 18 to accept the trophy and winner's cheque of US$900,000.

``He's got a lot of confidence, a lot of momentum,'' said Bryant. ``He had a good round and I give him all the credit in the world.''

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., was the top Canadian after a solid 2-under 68 in tough conditions. The round vaulted him up 11 places to a tie for 20th, which earned him slightly more than $50,000.

Hearn was particularly touched by the warm reception he got at the final hole.

``I went to the Canadian Open for about 10 years as a kid,'' he said. ``I was probably a part of that roar from the other side as a kid growing up so it felt great coming up there and knowing I had a good day under my belt.''

Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Ont., shot a 72 to finish at even par while Canadian Amateur champion Richard Scott struggled to a 75 to end up at 3-over.

It was a tough afternoon for 21-year-old amateur Victor Ciesielski of Cambridge, Ont., who looked stunned after shooting a 77 _ his only round over par all week. He finished at 4-over 284.

He drew a large gallery once again and was loudly supported until the end. Now he'll move on to the University of Waterloo with a better idea of what it takes to play the PGA Tour.

``It's a very eye-opening experience even though I played pretty good,'' said Ciesielski. ``It's not even close to where I need to be.

``These guys shoot the same as me but it's probably not a good round for them and I'm clicking. I need to take a couple more steps forward rather than this step backwards today.''

He wasn't the only player to back up on Sunday, when the course played as tough as it did all week because of the tucked final round flags and a whipping wind.

Furyk's winning score was six shots lower than Bob Tway's winning mark at the 2003 Canadian Open at Hamilton because rain kept it from playing firm and fast, but it was still a hit with players.

``The course held up well considering all things,'' said Rory Sabbatini, who closed with a 66 and tied for seventh. ``They did a wonderful job of preparing it and maintaining it for us.''

The tournament looked headed for a playoff as eight players were within two shots of the lead early on the back nine.

Furyk grabbed it for good with a 20-footer for birdie on No. 10 then extended the lead to two shots by knocking his approach at the tough par-3 13th to 12 feet and burying the putt for another birdie.

O'Hair and Bryant briefly cut that deficit back to one before Furyk rolled in a birdie putt on No. 17.

He started the week with the best round and ended it the same way. The world's No. 3-ranked player had an answer for everything at Hamilton.

Notes: Ciesielski had planned to put on a loud plaid jacket on the 18th green but decided against it at the last minute: ``I didn't want to make myself look like even more of a joke,'' he said. ... Australian Will MacKenzie needed two separate rulings from an official around the 18th green. After making the second one, the official doffed his cap to cheers from the impatient crowd.