Nick Taylor won't have to purchase a Molson in a 19 thhole for the rest his life.
After a four-hole marathon playoff, the 35-year old Winnipegger won his third PGA Tour title on Sunday, 2023 RBC Canadian Open, at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, in North York, Ontario. He also made history as the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher to win the national open in 1954. Taylor ended a 69-year-long drought and won the tournament with a 72 foot prayer putt. The golf gods answered the prayer and it was a miracle moment for the thousands of Canadians who braved the rain.
"It feels, I can't even describe it. Taylor said, "This is the most incredible sensation." The fans were incredible all day. "Every green, every tee-box I received ovations, and to make those two putts, to give myself a shot to do that, is what I am speechless."
WALKING OFF WINNER FROM OVER 72 FEET! @NTaylorGolf59 won the @RBCCanadianOpen by putting his longest putt ever! pic.twitter.com/lJtiIM43vN
-- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 11, 2023
"Nice moment Nick and fans here. It was great to be part of the Sunday and playoff. I really had my chances. This time it wasn't meant to be. Fleetwood said, "But, yeah, congrats to him," as he continues his quest for that first PGA Tour victory. "I missed my chance and I'm sorry."
C.T. Pan (70), Aaron Rai (67) and Tyrrell Hatton (44) finished T-3 at 16 under. Pan (70), Eric Cole (63) & Mark Hubbard (71) finished in T-3 with 16 under.
Taylor, who missed the cut by one shot on Friday, fired a 9-under-par 63 Saturday to close the gap and move three shots closer to the leader going into the final round. Taylor's five birdies in his first 10 holes helped him to reach 16 under par with eight holes remaining. However, by the time Taylor made his first bogey on the 11 th, his lead had shrunk to just one.
After making birdies at Nos. 8 and 12, Fleetwood and Rai joined him in the clubhouse. The pair made birdies on Nos. 8 and 12 respectively. Hatton, who birdied four of his last five holes for his second 8 under 64 in a row, joined the party to tie Taylor on 16 under. Rai joined the party with a birdie at the 18 thtee.
His chip shot was six feet away for a birdie. Taylor walked a few feet and gave a huge fist-pump as his putt curled into the hole from the right. He took the lead in the clubhouse with a 6-under score. Fleetwood birdied his last two holes but made a disappointing 'par' due to two bad shots at the 18 th and forced a play-off with a 5-under score of 67.
The first playoff hole was No. Both players missed the green on the left after blowing the approach shot. Taylor's pitch was beautiful despite an awkward stance and a foot stuck in the bunker. He left only a few feet to make birdie. Fleetwood smashed his shot from the rough, but he nailed a long birdie putting to put pressure on Taylor. Taylor made his putt as the rain began to fall.
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Fleetwood's approach shot on the second playoff was so far to the right that it ended up in the hospitality tent. Taylor ran his approach just left of the green from the first cut rough, but far from the pin on the right. Taylor's chip was a disappointment as it fell short of the pin. This left a 20-foot putt for birdie. Fleetwood hit a shot inside Taylor from 11 feet after getting a drop on the thick, wet rough. Fleetwood's shot was high and left after Taylor's low and right effort. The playoff went to the par-3 9th.
Taylor missed the green, but Fleetwood's putt was just a few inches away from the edge. Both players missed their putts, and both tapped in to par. This marathon match was sent back to the par-5 18 th hole for a final playoff.
Taylor found the front half of the green after a poor tee-shot forced Fleetwood lay up. This left a 72-foot birdie putt. Fleetwood's shot was short of the pin and left 12 feet, in a similar spot to one of his missed birdie puts. Taylor's nation was watching as he buried the putt, sending the crowd into frenzy.
Taylor has now won three times in his career. He previously won the Sanderson Farms Championship and 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Taylor missed the cut on his last two attempts, but has now had six top-10 finishes and two runner up finishes this season.
By: Adam Woodard
Title: Nick Taylor makes history with 72-foot putt to win 2023 RBC Canadian Open in fourth playoff hole
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/06/11/nick-taylor-2023-rbc-canadian-open-playoff-tommy-fleetwood/
Published Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2023 23:37:33 +0000
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