Nick Taylor drains insane 72-foot eagle to become first countryman to win RBC Canadian Open in 69 years
For the first time in 69 years, a Canadian has won his national open. Nick Taylor leaned on his fellow countrymen willing him to victory and became a Canadian legend in the process, finishing at 17 under at Oakdale Golf & Country Club and defeating Tommy Fleetwood with an eagle on the fourth playoff hole -- the par-5 18th.
With his dramatics, Taylor captured his third career title on the PGA Tour but the first of this magnitude. His fellow Canadians swarmed up — players and fans alike — and put the finishing touches on what can only be described as a win for the entire country.
"I'm speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home. ... I'm very speechless. This is the most incredible feeling ever," said Taylor moments after sinking the putt. "I had a similar lie on the second playoff hole. I knew it was going to be slow with how much rain we've had. I wanted to get as [close as] I can because Tommy, I thought he was going to make it for that to go in. It's unbelievable. I don't know what to say."
After opening with a 3-over 75 and sitting in a tie for 120th, Taylor clawed his way back into the tournament over the next 54 holes. A course-record 63 on Moving Day gave him an outside chance to make history and put him just three off the pace of the leader C.T. Pan with 18 holes to play.
Four birdies across his first seven holes turned a dream into a reality as Taylor started to seize control of the tournament. Shouts of "Taylor! Taylor! Taylor!" began to fill the property as he made the turn towards the inward half.
A birdie from the blade of the Canadian on the 10th gave Taylor a three-stroke lead with eight holes to play. It felt like the curse had been lifted and a nice stroll to the winner's circle was in order. However, just then did Taylor's grip begin to tighten. A 3-putt bogey on the 11th saw his lead drop to one, and with Tyrrell Hatton imposing his will on the back nine, the tournament once again was up for grabs.
Hatton would post the clubhouse lead at 16 under and was soon matched by his countryman, Aaron Rai. Fleetwood kept pace with a 20-foot birdie conversion on the 11th, and Taylor remained steady during an otherwise uncomfortable time. A clutch birdie on the 17th green saw Taylor return to 16 under after a bogey on the previous hole, and a right-to-left bender on the par-5 closer gave the Canadian one last birdie and the clubhouse lead at 17 under.
Source: CBSSports
