Carl Pettersson had an impressive weekend, coming from near the cut-line to a Canadian Open championship victory. (Dave Donnelly/CBC)

Carl Pettersson of Sweden posted a one-shot victory at the Canadian Open on Sunday, one day after setting a course and tournament record.

Pettersson shot 67 on Sunday to finish 14-under at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto and win his fourth PGA Tour title.

"It's unbelievable," said the Swede. "I still can't believe I won the tournament."

Dean Wilson of the U.S. came into the final round four shots ahead of a large group of players and at one point Sunday had a five-shot lead over Pettersson.

But Wilson shot 74 on the day, finishing a shot behind the winner.

Pettersson, who flirted with missing the cut on Friday, turned his game around Saturday with a round of 60. He narrowly missed a 30-foot putt that would have made him the fifth man in PGA Tour history to shoot 59.

"I walked in the locker-room and Jay Williamson had all the [cut] scenarios written out, and he's like, 'Grab a beer,'" said Pettersson. "Before you know it, I'd had seven beers. Made the cut. And my caddie had to drive me home."

Cruising home

On Sunday, Pettersson turned the heat up on Wilson by making consecutive birdies at Nos. 13-15 and cruised home from there.

"You know, if you would have asked me Thursday if I was going to win, I would have laughed at you," he said. "I'd probably have thought: 'Have you been drinking seven beers or what?'"

He appeared headed for a two-shot win heading to the final green, but he bogeyed the 18th before having an easy tap-in for the title. He earns $918,000 US for the victory.

It was a crushing loss for Wilson, who got into the $5.1-million tournament on a late sponsor's exemption and had the chance to secure his tour card for the next two years with a win.

The 40-year-old had been struggling with his game and earned his best finish since winning the 2006 International. Wilson now shares something in common with former college roommate Mike Weir, who finished second at the 2004 Canadian Open after losing to Vijay Singh in a playoff.

"He's always cheering for me," Wilson said of his Canadian friend. "I got a text from him. He told me: 'Go get them.' I'm a little disappointed I didn't do it. But you know, I'm not as disappointed as when he didn't win it in 2004.

"There was a tear in my eye [that day] — I was really cheering for him and I was out there."

B.C.'s Hadwin impresses

The low Canadian was 22-year-old Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., who birdied the final two holes at his first PGA Tour event to shoot 71 and tie for 37th, at 5-under for the week.

"I just wanted to come in and play well and represent Canada and show that the Canadian Tour really does deserve these exemptions and show them that we can play at this higher stage," said Hadwin. "It was fantastic. A great week."

Jon Mills of Oshawa, Ont., was 4-under, two shots ahead of veteran Stephen Ames of Calgary.

Briton Luke Donald was alone in third at 12-under, with nine players shooting 10-under.

The sun came out and wind picked up on the final day, making it tougher than it had been earlier in the week. It was the only round during the tournament where the field averaged over par.

"There was definitely more wind and [from] a slightly different direction," said Donald. "It made it play a little bit different. I think it made the par-5s a little bit longer. Probably not quite as many scoring opportunities."

Wilson's grip on the lead started to slip at the 12th hole, where he left a chip short and made bogey. He did the same thing on No. 14 — falling one stroke behind as Pettersson made a 25-footer for birdie.

He never recovered.

Wilson, who attributed his sponsor's exemption in large part to Weir, earned his highest finish on tour since winning the 2006 International in Japan.

With files from CBCSports.ca