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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Nick Taylor had an emotional victory final yr within the Canadian Open, capped by an unforgettable sort out.
The 35-year-old Canadian golfer made extra reminiscences on the Phoenix Open with a large rally to take down Charley Hoffman.
Taylor rallied from 3 pictures down with 4 holes left in regulation and made an 11-foot birdie putt to beat Hoffman on the second gap of a playoff on Sunday, capping one other wild week on the Phoenix Open.
“The end was fairly dreamlike, and hitting all these putts was a variety of enjoyable,” Taylor stated. “The ambiance was unimaginable all week.”
Taylor fed off it late in his spherical after laboring by means of excellent scoring situations a lot of the afternoon. He discovered the rhythm at simply the suitable time, closing a 6-under 65 with a 9-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to drive the playoff. He and the 47-year-old Hoffman completed at 21-under 263.
Each gamers birdied the additional gap and hit the inexperienced on No. 18 a second time — Taylor from the suitable tough; Hoffman from the left fairway bunker. Hoffman left his putt quick, and Taylor birdied the outlet for the third time in lower than an hour because the solar dipped beneath the horizon.
“I did not actually falter, so I’ve acquired to present Nick credit score,” stated Hoffman, a San Diego native who hasn’t gained on tour since 2016 and has handled again points in recent times. “He birdied 4 of the final 5 holes he performed. Hats off to him for doing that. “
Taylor gained his fourth PGA Tour title to finish a chaotic week of climate delays and the uncommon determination to shut the gates — and, gulp, reduce off liquor gross sales — when issues began to get out of hand on Saturday.
Making the most of the primary nice day of the week within the desert, Hoffman moved into competition by ending off a 64 on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course within the morning to finish his weather-delayed third spherical.
Hoffman was 4 beneath in a three-hole stretch on the again 9 and had a 3-shot lead when he completed a second straight 64.
Taylor would not let him seize the trophy simply but.
He had an emotional end on the 2023 Canadian Open, making a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff gap to develop into the primary Canadian golfer in 69 years to win his nationwide open. The victory grew to become extra memorable when a safety guard tackled Adam Hadwin, Taylor’s good friend and fellow Canadian participant, as he rushed the inexperienced in celebration.
Hadwin was there to congratulate Taylor once more within the desert however managed to remain on his toes this time.
“He wore the identical outfit however fortunately wasn’t tackled by a safety guard,” Taylor stated.
Taylor shot a course-record-matching 60 within the opening spherical, his 5-shot lead matching the most important after 18 holes on the PGA Tour since 1983.
He completed off a third-round 68 on Sunday morning however stagnated after a birdie at No. 9. He got here to life with consecutive birdies beginning on No. 15 then had a three-birdie ending flourish beginning on 18 after simply lacking a birdie putt on No. 17.
“That 18th tee shot has given me hassle prior to now,” stated Taylor, runner-up to Scottie Scheffler final yr within the occasion. “To hit three fairly good ones and birdie it thrice is wonderful.”
Scheffler, the two-time reigning champion, surged into competition with 5 straight birdies to finish his third spherical, capturing 66 within the morning regardless of laying aside the inexperienced right into a bunker for a bogey on No. 18.
The world No. 1 briefly held the lead early within the ultimate spherical earlier than his putter went chilly, ending his bid for the PGA Tour’s first three-peat in 13 years. Scheffler almost aced the par-3 sixteenth gap however was too far behind to catch Hoffman. He shot 66 to tie Sam Burns for third at 18 beneath.
“I might say I am a bit pissed off,” Scheffler stated. “I did not actually end the way in which I wished to, however I gave myself a very good likelihood this week.”
So did Taylor — and he completed it off.
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