Nick Taylor wins 2023 RBC Canadian Open in four-hole playoff

Nick Taylor will never have to buy a Molson at a 19^th hole in Canada for the rest of his life.

The 35-year-old from Winnipeg claimed his third PGA Tour win on Sunday at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in North York, Ontario, after a marathon four-hole playoff with Tommy Fleetwood and made a little history on the side as the first Canadian to win his national open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Taylor ended the 69-year drought and tournament in style with a 72-foot prayer of a putt that was answered by the golf gods and produced a miraculous moment for the tens of thousands of Canadian fans who weathered the rain to witness it.

“It feels, I can’t even describe it. This is the most incredible feeling,” said Taylor. “The fans were unbelievable all day. Every green, every tee box I was getting ovations and to make those last two putts to give myself a chance to do that, I’m speechless.”

WALK-OFF WINNER FROM 72 FEET! 🏆@NTaylorGolf59 wins @RBCCanadianOpen with the longest putt of his career! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/lJtiIM43vN

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 11, 2023

“Nice moment for Nick and the fans here. So it’s great to be a part of that Sunday and that playoff. I had my chances, really. It wasn’t to be this time. But, yeah, congratulations to him,” said Fleetwood, who is still chasing that elusive first PGA Tour win. “I had my chances and didn’t take ’em.”

Tyrrell Hatton (64), Aaron Rai (67) and C.T. Pan (70) finished T-3 at 16 under, with Eric Cole (63) and Mark Hubbard (70) three shots back, T-6 at 14 under.

After making the cut by just one shot, Taylor fired a course-record 9-under 63 on Saturday to move within three shots of the lead entering the final round. Five birdies over his first ten holes propelled Taylor to a three-shot lead at 16 under with eight holes to play, but by the time he tapped in for his first bogey of the day on the 11^th hole, his lead was just one.

In a matter of minutes Cole signed for a 63 of his own and was in the clubhouse at 14 under, and he was shortly joined in second by Fleetwood and Rai after the pair made birdies on Nos. 8 and 12, respectively. Hatton joined the party and tied Taylor at 16 under after he birdied his final four holes to sign for his second 8-under 64 of the week. Rai threw his name in the mix with a birdie on the last, leaving a three-way tie for the lead with Taylor on the par-5 18^th tee.

His approach to the green went long into the rough, and his…