Taylor wins golf’s Canadian Open to end 69-year home win drought

TORONTO – Nick Taylor sank a stunning 72-foot eagle putt on Sunday’s fourth play-off hole to beat England’s Tommy Fleetwood and become the first local since 1954 to win the Canadian Open.

“I’m speechless,” Taylor said of his third PGA Tour title. “This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home. I’m speechless. This is the most incredible feeling ever.”

He was in tears as spectators raced out of the grandstands at Oakdale Golf and Country Club and onto the par-five 18th green to celebrate the victory.

He fired a six-under 66 to match Fleetwood (67) on 17-under 271 to force the play-off.

“This was incredible,” Taylor said. “This is an unbelievable moment. It was such a special day. This was amazing.”

He paid tribute to the fans, saying: “Every hole they were egging you on. Then in the play-off when the rain was coming down, it gives you the energy to keep going, keep focused. This is for all of them.”

After both golfers birdied the 18th to open the play-off, parred it on the second extra hole and parred the par-three ninth, they returned to No. 18 for the emotion-packed finish.

World No. 23 Fleetwood found a fairway bunker and blasted out short of the green while the 69th-ranked Taylor was on the green but miles from the hole.

Fleetwood dropped his approach 12 feet from the hole and Taylor then rolled in the longest putt of his career to emulate his late compatriot Pat Fletcher’s triumph 69 years ago.

“I had a similar line in the second play-off hole,” Taylor said. “I knew it was going to be slow with how much rain we’ve had.

“I wanted to get as close as I can because Tommy, I thought he’s going to make it. For that to go in, it was unbelievable.”

Fleetwood, a six-time European Tour winner, settled for his fifth PGA runner-up finish. No Englishman has won the Canadian Open since Peter Oosterhuis in 1981.

“Nice moment for Nick and the fans here,” Fleetwood said. “It’s great to be a part of that. I had my chances, really. It wasn’t to be this time. But congratulations to him.”

He will try to pick himself up for the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club starting on Thursday.

“Have to take the positives from it and start practising tomorrow. I got a Major next week. So can’t dwell on it too much.”

Taylor, who set a course record of 63 on Saturday, had his right foot in a bunker when he punched from greenside sloped rough to five feet on the first play-off hole.

But he watched Fleetwood make a tense 20-foot birdie putt and then sank his putt to extend the play-off.

Rain began as they played the 18th again, Fleetwood sending his second shot into the right grandstand but recovering to have an 11-foot birdie putt to win – only to miss and stretch the drama.

At the par-three ninth, Taylor landed 14 feet from the hole on the right fringe while Fleetwood was 13 feet away on the green.

Taylor’s putt came up short and he tapped in. Fleetwood missed left and tapped in and back they went to No. 18.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton birdied the last four holes to shoot 64 and share third on 272 with countryman Aaron Rai, who shot 67, and 54-hole leader Pan Cheng-tsung (70) of Chinese Taipei.

Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy shot 72 to share ninth on 276. AFP