Nick Taylor was exhausted after his four-hole sudden death playoff where he edged out EnglandB次元官网网址檚 Tommy Fleetwood to win the RBC Canadian Open. After an hours-long marathon of celebrations and media obligations, he was starving so he and his family went to the nearest McDonalds drive-thru.
His phone, plugged in after getting blown up with calls and text messages following the historic victory, started ringing. On the screen was the name Wayne Gretzky.
B次元官网网址淣ow, IB次元官网网址檝e never met Wayne before, so we reversed out of the drive-thru and I chatted with him for two or three minutes,B次元官网网址� said Taylor on Monday. B次元官网网址淭hat was really nice, but surreal.
B次元官网网址淔or someone like that to call, let alone want to reach out and say congrats, thatB次元官网网址檚 really cool.B次元官网网址�
That chat with the legendary hockey player while in a fast-food jointB次元官网网址檚 parking lot is emblematic of TaylorB次元官网网址檚 new life.
He has quiet moments where heB次元官网网址檚 just a Mario Kart-loving family man, and then unreal situations where heB次元官网网址檚 the centre of attention, greeted like a conquering hero after ending a 69-year stretch of futility by Canadian golfers at the menB次元官网网址檚 national championship.
Taylor was in Toronto on Monday for one of those more surreal days, doing a host of media appearances including being interviewed on Sportsnet ahead of a Blue Jays game. Sitting in the lobby of RBCB次元官网网址檚 headquarters before a meeting with the executives of one of his biggest sponsors, Taylor gestured to a wraparound screen above the entrance to the bank branch that was showing a video of his climactic 72-foot putt to win the Canadian Open.
B次元官网网址淗ey, there I am,B次元官网网址� said Taylor with a chuckle.
B次元官网网址淚t has been cool to be at events with players caddies, everyone in the golf world. coming up to both of us, (caddy Dave Markle) and I, to congratulate us, saying they were watching,B次元官网网址� said Taylor. B次元官网网址淐ountless comments about how it was one of the most exciting things theyB次元官网网址檇 ever seen.
B次元官网网址淓ven people who arenB次元官网网址檛 Canadian saying B次元官网网址業 was in tears,B次元官网网址� like that impact I think is very unique from that standpoint.B次元官网网址�
And that experience is something that Taylor is still processing two months later as he balances being the father of two young children and playing in PGA Tour events.
B次元官网网址淢y perspective of, say, the putt, has changed with seeing the video so many times, my perception is almost now more the video rather than me being in it,B次元官网网址� said Taylor, who is from Abbotsford, B.C. B次元官网网址淚 think being at home has helped that reflection process because golf is funny, you have an amazing moment like that but within three days youB次元官网网址檙e playing another tournament and youB次元官网网址檙e trying to put that in the rear-view mirror and focus on the new event.
B次元官网网址淏ut being able to soak it up, be at home a little bit, be with family and friends, has been as part of processing it.B次元官网网址�
Taylor is taking a short break from competition after he made his British Open debut. He qualified for the final major of the menB次元官网网址檚 golf season based on his ranking in the FedEx Cup standings, which got a huge boost from his Canadian Open win.
As a result, he will not play in this weekB次元官网网址檚 Wyndham Championship.
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is the highest-ranked Canadian in the field, sitting 37th in the FedEx Cup standings. Adam Hadwin (39th) of Abbotsford, Mackenzie Hughes (44th) of Dundas, Ont., Taylor Pendrith (113th) of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Michael Gligic (207th) of Burlington, Ont., comprise the Canadian contingent at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
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