Green has learned his lesson

Nathan Green was conscious not to make the same mistakes that cost him a wonderful opportunity to win the Buick Invitational in 2006. On that occasion, a chance to win his first PGA Tour title disappeared with a play-off loss to Tiger Woods. But the Australian would not be denied at Glen Abbey when he ended a gloomy week well by beating Retief Goosen of South Africa on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to win the Canadian Open on Monday.

It was Green's maiden PGA Tour title. After four days of torrential rain forced the US$5.1 million (Dh18.7m) tournament to a Monday finish, the skies finally cleared before Green fended off a late challenge from twice-US Open champion Goosen. "I've been in that similar situation before at Torrey Pines my first season out [and] I had a play-off with Tiger and another two guys you don't want to be in a play-off with," Green said. "But I was definitely a bit calmer in today's play-off than I was then. I think I learned a little bit."

Goosen rolled in a 15ft eagle putt on the last hole of regulation play to join Green at 18-under and put pressure back on the 34-year-old Australian, who still had two to play. Green, who twice birdied and eagled the 18th in earlier rounds, could not hold his nerve and settled for par to send the tournament to a play-off. Ironically as rain swamped Glen Abbey, the drought continued for Canadian players who were unable to claim the national championship for the 55th consecutive year.

It was the first Monday finish at the Canadian Open since 1988. * With agencies