Nick Taylor is still 鈥渂uzzing鈥 from the 72-foot putt that rolled him straight into Canadian sporting history.
Speaking with 愛污传媒 from Los Angeles as he prepares for the upcoming U.S. Open, the 35-year-old admits he didn鈥檛 get much sleep after winning the Canadian Open on Sunday. He鈥檚 still processing his walk-off putt and how it's now being heralded as a Canadian heritage moment.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how to take that in yet, honestly, I remember those moments when Sidney Crosby scored the gold medal goal. My dad is a massive Blue Jays fan and I watched Joe Carter鈥檚 homerun for years growing up. To even be mentioned in the same conversation as those two icons gives me chills,鈥 Taylor says.
Raised in Abbotsford, B.C., Taylor fully dedicated his life to golf at the age of 15. Though, nothing could have prepared him for sinking that Hail Mary putt on home soil to win the Canadian Open.
With a grin, Taylor shares that he wasn't sure his lengthy putt was going to go in.
鈥淭he speed looked good about halfway there, but it was so far away I had no inkling of what was going on.鈥
Moments later, bedlam broke out at Toronto鈥檚 Oakdale Golf and Country Club; Taylor tossed his putter into the air as fans rushed onto the course.
鈥淚t's fairy-tale type of stuff to make that kind of putt. You dream about it when you鈥檙e a young kid, make a putt to win a golf tournament (like) the Canadian Open,鈥 says Taylor.
For decades, Canadian golfers have come oh so close to winning their country鈥檚 golf open, but have fallen just short. For Taylor, it took three remarkable rounds, four playoff holes, a rain-soaked 18th green and one deft putting stroke to wash away 69 years of disappointment.
The last Canadian golfer to do it? Pat Fletcher in 1954.
鈥淢ost people at the Canadian Open on Sunday weren鈥檛 even alive then,鈥 notes Canadian Golf Hall of Fame writer and journalist Lorne Rubenstein, who, per usual, was in attendance at the Canadian Open.
鈥淭his will be one of those 'where was I' moments in Canadian sports,鈥 notes Rubenstein, who goes on to admit, 鈥淚 did have a few tears in my eyes when [Taylor] made that putt because it was so unexpected 鈥 it was a letting go of all that tension.鈥
As the ball collapsed into the cup, a nation in waiting rose to their feet and a collective tension was released by fans from coast to coast to coast.
鈥淭he excitement going on with all the fans (on the course) was the greatest experience I鈥檝e ever had. My caddie Dave and I pretty much blacked out and celebrated,鈥 recounts Taylor.
Caught up in the celebration, Taylor's good buddy and fellow Canadian PGA pro, Adam Hadwin, was mistaken for a fan and tackled to the green while trying to shower the newly minted champion with champagne.
鈥婼till laughing about the turn of events, Taylor says he鈥檚 spoken with Hadwin since and says 鈥渉is wife was making fun of him; Adam has taken it with great stride. I was wishing to give him a bear hug, then to see him get tackled... but I gave him a hug later on. It was great that he was there.鈥
One person missing from the celebration was Taylor's wife Andie who just gave birth to their second child six weeks ago.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get home and celebrate with them,鈥 says Taylor, who鈥檚 currently committed to playing this weekend at the U.S. Open and the following week at the Travelers Championship.
When it comes to the long game, Taylor's massive win is almost surely going to be felt for decades, inspiring children across Canada to pick up a club and start dreaming their own dreams.
Taylor admits, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the hardest thing for me to grasp, having that kind of impact over an entire country. But if that鈥檚 the case and more kids get into golf then that鈥檚 an absolute cherry on top.鈥
While the mild mannered champion remains in disbelief, the reality is Taylor's triumph will take its rightful place in Canadian sports lore forevermore.鈥
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