" Glorious and Free " Nick Taylor putts his way into Canadian history...final results

 PGA Tour : RBC Canadian Open Leaderboard

"There hasn't been this much Canadian golf jubilation @RBCCanadianOpen #NickTaylor since 2003 when Weirsy won the #Masters "

On October 3rd, 1951 Bobby Thomson hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 9th to win the National League pennant for the New York Giants over the favoured Brooklyn Dodgers. It has forever been dubbed "the Shot heard round the World"  

On June 11, 2023 Nick Taylor hit a 72 foot putt on the 4th playoff hole to win the Canadian Open for the first time in 69 years that will be forever dubbed "the shot heard all round Canada"

and I missed it !!!

I was two when Pat Fletcher won it in 1954, and have been covering golf as a broadcaster, writer, producer and a volunteer for 40 years, especially Canadian golf.

When Nick, who had stumbled out of the gate with a cold putter and a +3 75 on Thursday, then suddenly found his game, 67 on Friday, 63 on Saturday and now playing and putting beautifully in contention on Sunday, pulled his drive into the thick wet rough on the par 5 16th, then hacked it out on his way to a crucial bogey 5 to drop to -15, I changed the channel, couldn't bare to watch the inevitable close but no cigar !

Three hours later, after a nap, I reluctantly went to YouTube.

There a clutch 17' birdie 3 on the par 4 17th, the crowd 20 deep around the fairway threw up their arms and jumped for joy.. -16.

Now to 18, par 5, 500yds, that low driving 2nd shot from 255 caught the thick surrounding rough on the hillside 55' feet away. His chip to 11 feet. Another clutch birdie 4, -17 !!!!.. tied for the lead, Oakdale was delirious, so was I, all alone in my bedroom !!

Through 3 playoff holes with the lovely English gentleman Tommy Fleetwood, at 18, 18 then par 3 9th both had a chance to win. 

Back to 18 for the 4th. Tommy dubbed the "fairway Jesus" due to his god like long hair, had crucially found the fairway bunker in regulation, settling for par which had allowed Nick into the playoff.

This time Nick's low driving 2nd from 255yds rolled up onto the sloping 18th, but caught the ridge and rolled away over and down to the front edge 25 yards away. Tommy was only 12 feet away after his 3rd.

You know the rest...on a similar line from a previous visit to the 18th, Nick hit a beauty, Tommy had begun his walk to his mark, but stopped half way, he could see Nick's line and pace were good..

As it turned out not good, but historic.

*Paul Henderson's winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series, 

*Ben Johnson's ill fated gold medal 100 meter 9.79 sprint at the 1988 Seoul Olympics to beat Carl Lewis, 

*Joe Carter's "touch em all Joe" World Series winner for the Blue Jays in 1993

*Mike Weir's immortal playoff win at the 2003 Masters, 

*Sydney Crosbie's "golden goal" in OT at 2010 Vancouver Olympics to beat USA, 

*Brooke Henderson 2018 CP Women's Open in Regina, the first by a Canadian since 1973.

* Nick Taylor's 72 foot 4th playoff hole eagle putt to win the RBC Canadian Open for the first time since 1954. 

All these moments have brought Canadians from coast to coast, of all races and religions to their feet, singing "O Canada" at the top of their lungs, unashamedly proud to be Canadian.

I didn't feel at all silly doing the same myself, in the dark, in my bedroom, and I fell asleep an hour later with the sound of much needed rain pitter pattering on the window, full of pride and contentment.

Thank you Nick...

Bryan Angus