Nathan Green had his best result in 2012

AMERICAN golfer Scott Piercy has won the 2012 Canadian Open by one shot after countrymen William McGirt and Robert Garrigus missed chances on the final hole to force a playoff.

Piercy won his second US PGA Tour title at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario after firing a three-under par 67 to finish the tournament on 17-under.

Playing in the penultimate group, Piercy had to watch nervously as McGirt (69) bogeyed out of a share of the lead and Garrigus (70) left a 14-foot birdie effort short on the 72nd hole to finish tied for second on 16-under.

Josh Teater (66), Bud Cauley (66) and Chris Kirk (68) shared fourth, three behind the leader while former champion Vijay Singh (67) joined two others in a tie for seventh on 12-under.

“You just have to believe in yourself,” an excited Piercy said. “Half the battle is being confident in yourself. Just knowing you can get there. If you keep working hard, good things will come.”

Australia’s Nathan Green obviously likes this event. The 2009 champion had his best finish of the year. Wielding his new belly putter, Green had four unanswered birdies on the back to finish with a 68, tied for 10th on 10-under.

Gavin Coles (68) was 19th and Stuart Appleby (70) 28th.