Nick Taylor Makes History with Stunning Victory at RBC Canadian Open

TORONTO - Nick Taylor celebrated a momentous victory at the RBC Canadian Open, becoming the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open. With a remarkable display of skill, Taylor sank a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth hole of a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood. This extraordinary feat, the longest made putt of Taylor's PGA Tour career, left him in a state of awe, as he later admitted, "I blacked out when that ball went in with Dave. So I'm curious to watch that, what we did."

Taylor's triumph was a monumental achievement in Canadian sports, a tournament he had long anticipated since his junior golf days. Breaking the decades-long curse of a Canadian-born champion, Taylor reflected on the significance of his victory, saying, "To kind of break that curse, if you want to call it, is — I'm pretty speechless. I don't think it's going to sink in for quite some time what happened today."

The historic moment drew attention and admiration from fellow Canadian players such as Mike Weir, Corey Conners, and Adam Hadwin, who were among those rushing onto the green to offer their congratulations. The presence of Weir, a longtime idol of Taylor, added to the specialness of the occasion.

Playing amidst fervent galleries and receiving chants of "O Canada," Taylor concluded his round with an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, securing a score of 17-under 271 at Oakdale. The electrifying atmosphere made it an unparalleled experience for Taylor, who expressed, "It was the most incredible atmosphere I've ever been a part of and it's not even close." He acknowledged the overwhelming support of the crowd, even for his opponent, saying, "When Tommy would miss and they would cheer, I kind of felt bad for him. But I knew just how pumped they were and they were trying to put every ounce of energy into it to help me pull it through."

Fleetwood, aiming for victory in regulation play, needed a birdie on the reachable par 5 but encountered difficulties, leading to a par and forcing the playoff under rainy conditions. The playoff saw both players exchanging birdies before eventually returning to the 18th hole. Taylor's tee shot landed in a divot on the fairway, but he skillfully played his second shot, reaching the front of the green with a 221-yard shot. Meanwhile, Fleetwood played it safe after finding a fairway bunker. Fleetwood's third shot came within 12 feet of the hole, but he didn't get the chance to putt as Taylor's eagle attempt hit the flagstick and dropped in.

The elation of the moment led to an exuberant celebration as fans flooded the green. Hadwin, a close friend of Taylor's from Abbotsford, British Columbia, found himself tackled by a security guard while spraying champagne from a bottle. The collective sentiment among Canadian golfers was one of immense pride and satisfaction for witnessing such a historic moment. Hadwin expressed his amazement, saying, "It's incredible. I mean, what do you say to one of the greatest moments of Canadian golf history?"

For Taylor, a 35-year-old Winnipeg native, this win marked his third victory on the PGA Tour. Overcoming a challenging start with a 75 in the opening round, he fought back with a 67 on Friday to make the cut. Taylor's exceptional performance included a brilliant 63 on Saturday, placing him three shots behind the leader, C.T. Pan.

Reflecting on his journey, Taylor acknowledged the unpredictability of golf, as he explained, "So to be standing there and then sitting here today is pretty remarkable, to be honest." With his triumph, Taylor joined an elite group of Canadian winners on the tour this season, alongside Conners, Hughes, and Svensson.

The defending champion, Rory McIlroy, finished tied for ninth, five shots behind the leader. Fleetwood, while disappointed with the outcome, remained optimistic, focusing on the positives and his upcoming preparations for the next major tournament.

Tyrrell Hatton, Aaron Rai, and C.T. Pan narrowly missed the playoff, finishing just one shot behind the leaders after a highly competitive tournament.