Nick Taylor Wins in Canada in Dramatic Fashion

Nick Taylor ended a 69-year drought in the most dramatic fashion.

The 35-year-old became the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to win the RBC Canadian Open, sinking a 72-foot eagle putt — the longest of Taylor’s PGA Tour career — to defeat Tommy Fleetwood on the fourth playoff hole.

“It was the most incredible atmosphere I've ever been a part of and it's not even close,” Taylor said after claiming his third Tour title. “I think even walking the first tee today, walking to the first green, there's ovations on every single tee and green. … I blacked out when that ball went with Dave (Taylor’s caddie). So I'm curious to watch what we did. I don't even remember what we did. But that was an incredible moment.”

The Winnipeg native was T-120 after an opening 75, the second-worst 18-hole position by a winner in the last 40 years on Tour. Taylor, however, rallied with a second-round 67 to make the cut, then shot 63 on Saturday to begin the final round three strokes back of the lead. He seized the lead by playing his first nine holes at 4 under and later curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on his 72nd hole to finish at 17 under.

Fleetwood parred the last after slicing his tee shot, falling into a playoff with Taylor. But following four extra holes, the 32-year-old Englishman remains winless in 119 Tour starts.

“Nice moment for Nick and the fans here,” Fleetwood said after a final-round 67. “So it's great to be a part of that Sunday and that playoff. I had my chances, really. It wasn't to be this time.”

Fleetwood is a two-time Ryder Cupper, and despite his heartbreaking loss north of the border, there’s still a strong chance he makes his third European squad later this year in Rome, Italy.

And in Canada, there were several Americans who improved their chances of teeing it up against Team Europe at Marco Simone.

Eric Cole continued his impressive rookie campaign by firing a final-round 63 to finish T-6, his third top-10 of the season, moving the 34-year-old from 31st to 25th on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list. Mark Hubbard also finished T-6 with his third top-10 of the season, jumping from 50th to 41st.

Crediti foto: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Brandon Wu placed T-9 and now sits 43rd in the FedExCup standings and 32nd in U.S. Ryder Cup points, up three spots from last week.

However, with the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club on deck, the U.S. Ryder Cup standings could look completely different after the year’s third major — as more points are rewarded than regular Tour events.

And Canada’s national open might have been the perfect tune-up.

“This course (Oakdale) isn't probably going to be as penal as the U.S. Open,” Cole said Sunday in Canada. “But it is a very tough course and you have to hit it where you're aiming. Playing out of some of (Oakdale’s) thick rough probably will be good preparation for next week.”

But nobody can prepare for a finish like Taylor’s — they can only hope.

U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson first announced the 2023 qualifying structure last year. Points in 2023 are awarded as follows:

- 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)

- 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events

Points qualification will conclude immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023, with the top six eligible players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team.

The six remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain’s Selections and will be announced by Johnson following the 2023 Tour Championship.

For a full list of the Top 100 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, click here.