Nick Taylor’s Unpredictable Journey Continues with a Triumph

Honolulu

Nick Taylor showcased his remarkable talent when he birdied the 18th hole three times during the WM Phoenix Open, first successfully forcing a playoff and then clinching the victory with his final birdie.

However, after that triumph, the Canadian golfer faced a challenging period, enduring a slump that lasted 23 tournaments over 11 months without finishing in the top 10.

Fans still recall Taylor’s incredible 70-foot eagle putt that led him to victory at the Canadian Open, celebrated by an ecstatic home crowd. Despite that memorable win, the subsequent seven months and twelve tournaments left Taylor with only one top 10 finish.

For the 36-year-old golfer, these wins have been significant— he has collected trophies each year for the last three years, totaling five in his career. The most recent victory came unexpectedly on Sunday, during which Taylor executed a stunning 60-foot chip-in for eagle on the final hole, followed by a crucial 10-foot birdie putt that kept him in contention. He ultimately defeated Nico Echavarria in a playoff with a deftly struck wedge shot, placing it just over three feet from the hole for the winning birdie.

Despite the ups and downs, Taylor expressed his fondness for the trophies he has earned, stating, “I really love the trophies. But I would also love to be more consistent.”

Taylor often practices alongside fellow Canadian Corey Conners, and their relationship goes back years, as they have played together during pivotal moments in each other’s careers. Conners served as a reliable partner in rounds when Taylor secured his wins in Canada and Hawaii, and likewise, Taylor accompanied Conners during the opening rounds of his own Texas victory. While Conners has only secured one win since 2020, he has demonstrated a higher level of consistency in his play.

“I’ve played with Corey a lot in practice rounds and tournaments. He’s somebody I aspire to be with his consistency. He’s phenomenal,” Taylor acknowledged. “That being said, I really enjoy being in moments and being able to close the deal and to win tournaments is ultimately what we’re trying to do. Again, yeah, consistency. I would love to get there to his level.”

Last year proved to be especially disheartening for Taylor as he aimed for important milestones, including a spot in the Olympics and being part of the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, where Canadian Mike Weir served as captain. After his victory at the Phoenix Open, Taylor seemed poised for success but then struggled significantly, registering only one top-20 finish amidst missed cuts at all four major tournaments, along with receiving disappointing news when Weir decided not to include him on the team.

Additionally, he did not finish in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings, which would have ensured participation in all the lucrative signature events. “Not making top 50 I knew would make the next year just not where I wanted to be. Not making the Presidents Cup definitely hurt,” he reflected. “I had more myself to blame. I felt like I put Mike in a tough situation. On top of that, I had to play more in the fall than I had originally planned and be away from family a few times.”

With determination, Taylor committed to improving during the brief offseason, eager to start a new West Coast leg of the tour featuring some of his favorite courses and essential events, hoping to at least maintain a position within the top 60 of the FedEx Cup.

Now, he is set to return to the Masters and gain entry into all the signature tournaments. “To have this good of a start is awesome,” he remarked.

The finale of the recent tournament was equally thrilling. After missing two short birdie attempts on the 15th and 16th holes, leaving him two shots behind, Taylor thought his opportunity had slipped away. However, he managed to chip in for eagle, while his closest competitors, Stephan Jaeger and J.J. Spaun, faltered without securing a birdie on the final hole, which allowed Taylor to join Echavarria, a talented Colombian emerging on the tour.

During the playoff, Echavarria initially had the advantage but Taylor responded with an impressive pitch shot up a steep slope and sank a crucial 10-foot birdie. On the second playoff hole, Echavarria found himself on the fringe, 40 feet from the hole while Taylor, positioned back in the fairway, was 46 yards away. Taylor executed a flawless pitch shot, but Echavarria’s putt fell short, leaving him 7 feet from the hole, which he subsequently missed.

All three of Taylor’s recent PGA Tour victories have come in playoffs— extending to four extra holes in Canada, two in Phoenix, and two in Hawaii. “I think I enjoy being in those moments. For whatever reason my mind gets clear in those situations of the shot I’m just trying to hit,” he noted. “I’ve worked on that the last couple years, why in those situations I’m good and the other situations where I’m not consistent if I’m in 30th or something. We’ll work on that. But nice start to the year, obviously.”