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Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor snakes 72-foot eagle putt to win RBC Canadian Open

Yale Secondary alum the first Canadian golfer to win national open in 69 years
Jessica Peters
Jessica Peters
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Nick Taylor, of Canada, reacts after winning the Canadian Open championship on the fourth playoff hole against Tommy Fleetwood, of Southport, U.K., in Toronto on Sunday, June 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

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.

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.

READ MORE: Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor breaks golf course record at RBC Canadian Open

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.

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.

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Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
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