Reavie follows routine -- twice -- en route to win

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Jul. 27, 2008
By Dave Perkins, Special to PGATOUR.COM

OAKVILLE, Ont. -- Chez Reavie says he will draw the line at eating two breakfasts every morning he's in contention on the PGA TOUR from now on.

Reavie, 26, chipped and putted his way to victory in the RBC Canadian Open, the first career score for the PGA TOUR rookie, after going through his game-day routine twice yesterday, as dictated by rain-soaked circumstances.

Chez Reavie
Laberge/Getty Images
Chez Reavie earned his first PGA TOUR victory on Sunday.
Chez Reavie
Last 10 TOUR starts
Tournament Finish Score to par
Wachovia Championship CUT +6
AT&T Classic T40 -4
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial T64 +3
the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley T64 +13
Travelers Championship CUT +4
Buick Open T83 +2
AT&T National CUT +4
John Deere Classic T41 -6
U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee T44 -7
RBC Canadian Open 1 -17

He showered twice, ate two breakfasts and did his usual routine again and it paid off with a three-shot victory over Billy Mayfair and a check for $900,000, about twice his career earnings, in addition to the 4,500 FedExCup points.

"I haven't even seen the check. How much is it for?'' Reavie asked after posting a 17-under-par score of 267 over Glen Abbey. When told, he whistled and said, "That's unbelieveable. Wow.''

That also described his golf for most of four days, including -- for him -- Sunday's split session. Reavie returned to Glen Abbey early Sunday to complete his third round. He putted out for par on the 17th hole, then punctuated the morning with a birdie at the final hole to take the lead by one shot over Anthony Kim at 16-under-par 197.

"I changed my shoes, went back to my hotel, had a nap for an hour and a half, then I started my routine all over again,'' he said. "I didn't shave, but I showered twice, ate two breakfasts. I wanted to do the exact same routine even though I'd already done it. But no, I won't be eating twice in the future.''

He said he didn't fret about being in the only group that didn't complete its third round Saturday evening and didn't really mind coming back in the morning for what turned out to be six shots.

"I didn't worry about it at all because it was out of my control,'' he said. "But, hopefully, the next time it will be a little more routine.''

Reavie said the key to the week for him, especially on the first three rain-interrupted days, was to hit fairways so that he could get his hands on the ball, under the lift, clean and place rules. He also led the field in scrambling, getting up and down 15 times in the 18 times he missed the green in regulation.

Reavie got off to a shaky start Sunday with bogeys on the first and third, the first a nervous three-putt from 41 feet, but never relinquished the lead. Kim likewise bogeyed the second and they were tied at 14-under, a shot ahead of Steve Marino and Scott McCarron, until Reavie's 17-foot birdie at the fourth, a hole he birdied all four days, restored his edge.

"It was a quick putt, but it calmed me down. It kind of got the momentum back. I hadn't hit terrible shots, but I'd made a couple of bogeys. I was pulling the ball, a little quick, a little nervous.''

His lead was two shots after Kim bogeyed the fifth, failing to escape deep rough on his first try, and McCarron hit a wild tee shot at the seventh and couldn't get up and down for par.

At the ninth, Reavie's 15-foot birdie preceeded Kim's successful 9-footer and when Reavie rolled in a 25-footer for birdie at the 10th, Kim, already in at about 12 feet, couldn't answer. That left the rookie three shots in front as they headed into Glen Abbey's valley holes along Sixteen Mile Creek and the margin was soon four shots when Reavie saved par neatly from greenfront rough while Kim missed yet another fairway and made bogey, his challenge finished.

Mayfair made a late bogey to move to 14-under 270, while Steve Marino and Sean O'Hair each birdied the downwind par-5 18th hole to finish at 271. Reavie birdied the final hole for a 1-under 70 and the struggling Kim ended tied for eighth after shooting 75.

"I was surprised at how calm I was, actually,'' Reavie said. "I'd never been in that situation before, so I didn't know what to expect. But I never pressed.

"I'm tired, but I'm so excited I'm numb,'' Reavie added. "I mean, I have a flight to Reno-Tahoe at 7:55 (Monday) morning, but now I understand I'm playing (at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational). Now I know I'm going to be out here for a while. I can play a schedule, instead of just playing when I can get in.''

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