Reavie Takes Canadian Open for First PGA Win

Chez Reavie was asked what he planned to buy first after his $900,000 windfall in the Canadian Open.

Chez Reavie celebrates after winning the Canadian Open golf championship at the Glen Abbey course in Oakville, Ontario, Sunday, July 27, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Ryan Remiorz)

(AP)

"I have no idea," the 26-year-old PGA Tour rookie said. "I'm sure I'll find something nice back home, if my fiancee doesn't spend it before I get home."

Amanda Henrichs' spending spree probably won't include a bigger wedding.

"It can't be any bigger," Reavie said. "I picked a good spot where we couldn't fit too many people. I'm sure she'll find something else she wants, though."

Reavie won the national championship Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, closing with a 1-under 70 on a welcome rain-free afternoon for a three-stroke victory over Billy Mayfair at soggy Glen Abbey.

"Oh, man. I'm just so excited," Reavie said. "I don't think a lot of people understand when you're growing up and you're practicing and you're working so hard, this is, obviously, your goal, but there are no guarantees."

Generously listed at 5-foot-9 and sporting the Arizona Diamondbacks' "A" logo on his shirts, the former Arizona State player has been jokingly tagged the Small Unit in reference to Randy Johnson, the 6-foot-10 pitcher known as the Big Unit.

Also in contrast to Johnson, Reavie relies on control. The short-hitter was on the mark in the wire-to-wire win, hitting 44 of 56 fairways and 54 of 72 greens in regulation. The accurate play was a big factor, with the players allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways on the course saturated by 8 inches of rain in a week.

"It was crucial to hit fairways so you could lift and clean your ball and place it in a good lie, especially when you don't hit it as far as some of the other guys do," Reavie said. "So, it really played into my hands."

Playing for the sixth straight week, Reavie finished at 17-under 267. In addition to the $900,000, he earned spots in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship the next two weeks and the 2009 Mercedes Championship and Masters. He also picked up a tour exemption through 2010.