Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor has won the RBC Canadian Open, breaking a nearly 70-year drought for Canada.
He spent Sunday afternoon at the top of the leaderboard, in a tight race between other contenders including three English players – Tyrell Hatton, Aaron Rai and Tommy Fleetwood.
NICK TAYLOR WINS THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN WITH AN INCREDIBLE PUTT pic.twitter.com/lg2VZBpN9H
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2023
Taylor started the four-day tournament on a sour note, but credits a pep talk from his wife for pulling his game together. By Saturday he had broken the Oakdale Golf & Country Club’s course record, with a 9-under 63.
At one point of the fourth round on Sunday, the crowd broke out into a rendition of O Canada. The last Canadian who won the national open was Pat Fletcher in 1954.
WALK-OFF WINNER FROM 72 FEET! 🏆@NTaylorGolf59 wins @RBCCanadianOpen with the longest putt of his career! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/lJtiIM43vN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 11, 2023
READ MORE: Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor breaks golf course record at RBC Canadian Open
BIRDIE FOR NICK TAYLOR!
And he is BACK, tied for the lead! pic.twitter.com/kz61bEuQd3
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2023
NICK TAYLOR SOLO LEAD!
WHAT A FINISH! pic.twitter.com/pozCEAc7h6
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2023
Taylor, who grew up playing at Ledgeview Golf Club, birdied the 17th hole to tie Fleetwood.
Taylor finished the final round with a 6-under 66. He had to wait patiently while Fleetwood finished his round.
The playoffs saw Taylor and Fleetwood battle over four holes, matching each other with birdies.
Nick Taylor speaks on his RBC Canadian Open win! pic.twitter.com/91QSC3oANL
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2023
Then they headed back to the 18th hole, where Taylor came out ahead, after draining a 72-foot eagle putt, the longest of his PGA career. The win was worth $1.62 million from the overall tournament purse of $9 million.
This win adds to the 35-year-old’s two PGA Tour wins, the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2015 and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2020.
Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, fared well at the Open finishing 12th after a final round 68, which left him at 11-under and the top Canadian in the field other than Taylor.
NICK TAYLOR WINS THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/zCCpeN0w16
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2023
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