PGA Tour 2023: Nick Taylor wins Canadian Open in a Playoffs, first Canadian champion since 1954.
Nick Taylor hit a 72-foot eagle putt to win his national open and become the first Canadian to do so in 69 years, but he doesn't recall throwing his putter into the air or leaping into the arms of his caddie Dave Markle.
When Taylor's uphill, left-to-right breaking putt, the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career, struck the flagstick and dropped on the fourth hole in a playoff versus Tommy Fleetwood for the RBC Canadian Open title, it provided a defining moment in Canadian sports.
Mike Weir, Corey Conners, and Adam Hadwin, all Canadian players, were among those who rushed onto the green to applaud him. Taylor's close friend Hadwin was spraying champagne from a bottle when he was attacked by a security guard.
- The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver.
- Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Weir lost a playoff to Vijay Singh in 2004.
More: RBC Canadian Open 2023 Purse, Prize Money Payout, Winners share, Final Leaderboard.
Taylor curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 17-under 271 at Oakdale, walking backwards with his fist raised as the ball dropped into the cup. He shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday.
Taylor is the fourth Canadian to win on tour this season, joining Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson.
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