At the RBC Canadian Open the previous year, Nick Taylor won with much emotion.
At the WM Phoenix Open, the 35-year-old Canadian created even more memories as he overcame Charley Hoffman with a tremendous rally.
At the WM Phoenix Open, Taylor completed an incredible week by rallying from three down with four holes remaining in regulation and making an 11-foot birdie putt to defeat Hoffman on the second hole of a playoff on Sunday.
“Making all those putts was a lot of fun, and the end was almost surreal. The entire week, the mood was amazing.” Taylor said.
After working through perfect scoring conditions for the majority of the afternoon, Taylor capitalised on it late in his round. At the perfect moment, he settled into a rhythm, forcing the playoffs with a 9-foot birdie putt to close up a 6-under 65. Together, he and Hoffman, 47, came in at 21-under 263.
On the eighteenth hole, both golfers hit the green twice and birdied the extra hole. Hoffman from the left fairway bunker, and Taylor from the right rough. As the sun sank below the horizon, Hoffman missed his putt, and Taylor made his third consecutive birdie of the hole in less than an hour.
I have to give Nick credit since I didn’t really falter. During his final five holes, he made four birdies. “Congratulations to him for accomplishing that,” remarked Hoffman, who has struggled with back problems lately and hasn’t won on tour since 2016.
After a full week of weather delays, Taylor won his fourth PGA TOUR title.
Hoffman completed his weather-delayed third round on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium in the morning, taking advantage of the first beautiful day of the week in the desert and putting himself in contention.
Hoffman finished with a three-shot lead after going four under during a three-hole stretch on the back nine. This was his second consecutive 64-hole round.
Taylor refused to give over the trophy to him just yet.
His ending to the 2023 Canadian Open was emotional as he became the first Canadian to win his national Open in 69 years with a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole.
When Taylor’s friend and fellow Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin stormed the green in celebration of his victory, a security guard tackled him, making the victory even more memorable.
Hadwin was present in the desert once more to congratulate Taylor, but this time he was able to stay upright.
Taylor added, “Fortunately he wasn’t tackled by a security guard despite wearing the same outfit.”
Taylor started the first round with a five-shot lead that matched the biggest after 18 holes on the PGA TOUR since 1983, matching the course record of 60.
After making a 68 in the third round early in the morning, Taylor faltered following a birdie at the ninth hole. He opened his round with back-to-back birdies on No. 15, and after narrowly missing a birdie putt on No. 17, he concluded with a three-birdie finish on No. 18.
“I’ve had problems in the past with that 18th tee shot. To hit three pretty good ones and birdie it three times is amazing.” Taylor, who finished second in the event to Scottie Scheffler the previous year, stated.
The two-time defending champion Scheffler fired off five consecutive birdies to finish his third round and shoot 66 in the morning, even though he missed the green on No. 18 and made par.
Before his putter went cold early in the final round, the world No. 1 lost the lead and his chance to become the first player to win the PGA TOUR in thirteen years. The par-3 stadium 16th hole was almost aced by Scheffler, but he was too far behind Hoffman to catch up with him. At 18 under, he tied Sam Burns for third place with a 66.
“I think I’m a little upset. Although I didn’t quite complete like I wanted to, this week I gave myself a fair shot.” stated Scheffler.
