Nick Taylor is developing a reputation as one of the PGA TourB次元官网网址檚 most clutch players, and heB次元官网网址檚 loving it.

Taylor drained an 11-foot putt for birdie on the second playoff hole of the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday to beat American Charley Hoffman for his second victory in nine months.

The fourth win of TaylorB次元官网网址檚 PGA Tour career mirrored his historic victory at the RBC Canadian Open last June, when he sank a 72-foot eagle putt in the fourth round of a playoff against EnglandB次元官网网址檚 Tommy Fleetwood.

B次元官网网址淵ou always relish being in those positions, but being able to pull off shots, now I can draw on that a lot,B次元官网网址� Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., said of his growing confidence. B次元官网网址淚 want to be in those positions more and more.

B次元官网网址淢y game has followed that, so hopefully IB次元官网网址檓 in those positions more and when I get in that kind of spotlight IB次元官网网址檓 comfortable. The hard part now is getting there as much as I can.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檒l have another chance at being in the spotlight at this weekB次元官网网址檚 Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The 35-year-old Taylor said that heB次元官网网址檚 worked to solidify his game over the past two years.

B次元官网网址淩eally, since the fall of B次元官网网址�22 we had a road map of where we wanted to get to, and since then it hasnB次元官网网址檛 really been changes, itB次元官网网址檚 been sticking to the same things that we know will get me to where I want to be,B次元官网网址� said Taylor. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been the deliberate practice of doing the same boring stuff, which sounds easy at times but sometimes you can wander away.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why my team will reel me in if I try to do something different because they know what weB次元官网网址檝e been doing has been working, so just sticking to the basic stuff.B次元官网网址�

One thing that hasnB次元官网网址檛 changed for Taylor is his ability to clear his mind and perform under pressure.

Taylor won the Canadian Junior in 2006 and the Canadian Amateur Championship in 2007 as an amateur and then also won on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2014 and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2020.

He said that more than a decade of playing in high-leverage situations has forged him into a clutch performer.

B次元官网网址淵ou work on mindset, you work on breathing at times, but I think dating back to even junior golf when IB次元官网网址檝e been in those positions, I want to be in that position,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 feel more locked in, whatever it is. IB次元官网网址檝e been able to pull off shots in those scenarios and I think maybe IB次元官网网址檝e been doing it long enough where I have confidence that I can pull it off and I donB次元官网网址檛 have the sidetracking thoughts or negative thoughts in there.B次元官网网址�

Taylor will be joined this week by Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C.

The win rocketed Taylor up the FedEx Cup standings to sixth overall, putting him into an excellent position to represent the International Team at this yearB次元官网网址檚 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 on the top of the list along with the Olympics,B次元官网网址� said Taylor, who wants to play for International captain Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., at the Presidents Cup. B次元官网网址淭here are things on my goal list, but I also just try to focus on my golf and if I play well I feel like itB次元官网网址檚 going to take care of itself.

B次元官网网址淭his is obviously a good start, but itB次元官网网址檚 a long ways away. If I keep playing good golf, I think it will take care of itself.B次元官网网址�

TEAM CANADA

Golf Canada announced the names of 19 professional players that will be part of its 2024 menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 squads on Monday.

Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., were named to the womenB次元官网网址檚 team.

A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Brendan MacDougall, Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., 脡tienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 Johnny Travale, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Jeevan Sihota, Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., Matthew Anderson of Missssauga, Ont., Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta., Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., Noah Steele of Kingston, Ont., VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Stuart Macdonald, Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, and Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, Ont., were named to the menB次元官网网址檚 group.

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