Nick Taylor broke a 69-year drought by becoming the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. The 35-year-old poured in a 72-foot eagle putt at the fourth playoff hole to overcome Tommy Fleetwood and claim his third PGA Tour title. It was the longest recorded putt holed by Taylor in his PGA Tour career.
Taylor and Fleetwood ended regulation play at 17-under. Taylor was an unlikely winner after opening the event with a 3-over 75 on Thursday to sit in 120th place. The former world No. 1 amateur golfer produced a 5-under 67 on Friday to climb inside the cut line. He then made a bold move on Saturday posting a 9-under 63 to set the new course record at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto. Taylor closed with a 6-under 66 that included sinking a birdie putt from 11 feet at the 72nd hole to reach the playoff.
England’s Fleetwood was searching for his maiden PGA Tour title. The 32-year-old now owns five runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour. Fleetwood fired a 5-under 67 on Sunday. The world No. 23 was looking to become the first Englishman to win the RBC Canadian Open since Peter Oosterhuis in 1981. Fleetwood dropped a 20-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to remain in the hunt for his elusive PGA Tour victory. He then missed outright chances for the win from 11 feet and 13 feet at the second and third playoff holes. It was Fleetwood’s fourth top 10 this season.
England pair Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai along with Taiwan’s CT Pan took a share of third place at 16-under. Hatton fired a sizzling final round 8-under 64 that included finishing the event with a run of four consecutive birdies. His superb round featured 10 birdies. Rai closed with a 5-under 67 for his best finish on the PGA Tour. Pan led the field by two shots into Sunday. The 31-year-old, who was looking for his second PGA Tour title after winning the RBC Heritage in 2019, closed with a 2-under 70.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy was trying to become the first golfer on the PGA Tour since Steve Stricker to win the same event in three consecutive starts. Stricker won the John Deere Classic in 2009, 2020 & 2011. The 34-year-old started the final round two shots off the lead after a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Saturday. McIlroy faded out of contention after covering the front nine in 2-over. The former world No. 1 made two birdies coming hole to sign for en even par 72 and finish in a tie for 9th place.
Sydney’s Harrison Endycott was the best placed Australian. The PGA Tour rookie closed his event with a 4-under 68 to get to 11-under for a share of 12th place.
The PGA Tour moves to California for next week’s US Open to be staged at the Los Angeles Country Club. England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is the defending champion.
1. Nick Taylor -17
2. Tommy Fleetwood -17
T3. Tyrrell Hatton -16
T3. Aaron Rai -16
T3. CT Pan -16
T6. Eric Cole -14
T6. Mark Hubbard -14
8. Justin Rose -13
Australians
T12. Harrison Endycott -11
T52. Cameron Percy -2
MC. Aaron Baddeley
MC. Geoff Ogilvy
Photo credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
