Nick Taylor had an emotional victory last year in the Canadian Open, capped by an unforgettable tackle.
The 35-year-old Abbotsford resident made more memories at the Phoenix Open with a massive rally to take down Charley Hoffman.
Taylor rallied from three down with four holes left in regulation and made an 11-foot birdie putt to beat Hoffman on the second hole of a playoff Sunday, capping another wild week at the Phoenix Open.
B次元官网网址淭he finish was pretty dreamlike and hitting all those putts was a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� Taylor said. B次元官网网址淭he atmosphere was incredible all week.B次元官网网址�
Taylor fed off it late in his round after laboring through ideal scoring conditions most of the afternoon. He found the rhythm at just the right time, closing a 6-under 65 with a 9-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to force the playoff. He and the 47-year-old Hoffman finished at 21-under 263.
Both players birdied the extra hole and hit the green on No. 18 a second time B次元官网网址� Taylor from the right rough, Hoffman from the left fairway bunker. Hoffman left his putt short and Taylor birdied the hole for the third time in less than an hour as the sun dipped below the horizon.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 really falter, so IB次元官网网址檝e got to give Nick credit,B次元官网网址� said Hoffman, who hasnB次元官网网址檛 won on tour since 2016 and has dealt with back issues in recent years. B次元官网网址淗e birdied four of the last five holes he played. Hats off to him for doing that. B次元官网网址�
Taylor won his fourth PGA Tour title to end a chaotic week of weather delays and the rare decision to close the gates B次元官网网址� and, gulp, cut off liquor sales B次元官网网址� when things started to get out of hand Saturday.
Taking advantage of the first pleasant day of the week in the desert, Hoffman moved into contention by finishing off a 64 on TPC ScottsdaleB次元官网网址檚 Stadium in the morning to complete his weather-delayed third round.
Hoffman was 4 under in a three-hole stretch on the back nine and had a three-shot lead when he finished a second straight 64.
Taylor wouldnB次元官网网址檛 let him grab the trophy just yet.
He had an emotional finish at the 2023 Canadian Open, making a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to become the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open.
The win became more memorable when a security guard tackled Adam Hadwin, TaylorB次元官网网址檚 friend and fellow Canadian player, as he rushed the green in celebration.
Hadwin was there to congratulate Taylor again in the desert, but managed to stay on his feet this time.
B次元官网网址淗e wore the same outfit, but thankfully wasnB次元官网网址檛 tackled by a security guard,B次元官网网址� Taylor said.
Taylor put himself with a course record-matching 60 in the opening round, his five-shot lead matching the largest after 18 holes on the PGA Tour since 1983.
Taylor finished off a third-round 68 in the morning, but stagnated after a birdie at No. 9. He came to life with consecutive birdies starting on No. 15 and finished with a three-birdie finishing flourish on 18 after just missing a birdie putt on No. 17.
B次元官网网址淭hat 18th tee shot has given me trouble in the past,B次元官网网址� said Taylor, runner-up to Scottie Scheffler last year in the event. B次元官网网址淭o hit three pretty good ones and birdie it three times is amazing.B次元官网网址�
Scheffler, the two-time reigning champion, surged into contention with five straight birdies to complete his third round, shooting 66 in the morning despite putting off the green into a bunker for a bogey on No. 18.
The world No. 1 briefly held the lead early in the final round before his putter went cold, ending his bid for the PGA TourB次元官网网址檚 first three-peat in 13 years. Scheffler nearly aced the par-3 stadium 16th hole, but was too far behind to catch Hoffman. He shot 66 to tie Sam Burns for third at 18 under.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say IB次元官网网址檓 a bit frustrated,B次元官网网址� Scheffler said. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 really finish the way I wanted to, but I gave myself a good chance this week.B次元官网网址�
So did Taylor B次元官网网址� and he finished it off.
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John Marshall, The Associated Press
