THE MASTERS IS THE MAJOR `YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO WIN'
Taylor comes into Augusta playing well, and has loved ones with him to enjoy it
When Nick Taylor skipped his ball across the pond and up onto the 16th green on Monday, he finally felt the embrace of the Masters patrons. Even if it came four years late.
“I did it in 2020. Nobody was out there to care,” Taylor said. “But yeah, that was fun.”
Taylor's only appearance came at the eerily quiet 2020 Masters that was moved to an empty Augusta National in November because of COVID.
The annual pre-tournament traditions, the roars echoing through the pines once play begins, the sights and sounds golfers remember watching on television as kids are all a part of what makes a trip to Augusta National such a special tournament.
“It would rank No. 1 growing up,” Taylor said. “It still is, I think. It kind of has this majestic or just this aura, at least for me now getting on the grounds. It's just everything about it. There's not a blade of grass out of place it seems. Every detail is thought about.”
For Taylor, who followed up his epic RBC Canadian Open win with his fourth PGA Tour victory in February at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, this year feels like time to make some noise at a major. In the midst of a mid-career renaissance, the 35-year-old former world No. 1 amateur is trying to erase memories of missed cuts at the final three majors of 2023.
“The elevated events and the majors were where I wanted to play better than last year,” Taylor said of his new goals. “I felt like the three majors that I played in ... a lot of them I was coming off odd circumstances. The (PGA Championship) my daughter was just born. Then (the U.S. Open) was the week after the Canadian Open, and then the British wasn't anything odd, but I didn't particularly play great there.”
The red-hot Taylor has discovered something in a new putting stroke, and rediscovered something in himself that has him leading the charge of Canadians on tour and ranked a career-high 24th in the world.
“There was times in amateur golf where I was winning at a higher rate and I had those similar feelings, but to be able to do it on the biggest stage over the last year can only brew confidence so I'm excited for the next six months,” Taylor told Postmedia. “I think relishing that moment and wanting to be there. Of course I'm nervous, but I think from a relatively young age when I got in those scenarios some sort of comfort comes over me and I'm able to focus on what I really want to do.”
Off the course this week, Taylor is excited to create Masters memories with his family, another thing he wasn't able to do in 2020.
“That's the other part of the experience,” he said. “My wife and kids and my parents, my brother, my in-laws are here, as well, a couple really good friends and family friends. That was a part, too, that I missed out.”
Like many people during COVID, Taylor used technology as best he could to create virtual memories.
“I remember FaceTiming — which might not have been allowed — but FaceTiming driving in on Magnolia Lane with my family the first time I was here because just the experiences that I knew they weren't going to be able to have,” he said. “They were out here today, so getting the whole week experience is really fun for them, too.”
With a penchant for making big putts, and three top-10 finishes and a win in eight events this season, seeing Taylor contend at a major would surprise nobody. And doing it at the Masters would be icing on the cake.
“It feels like if you ever won that one... It's one that you definitely want to win out of the majors,” he said. “To lead the year off with that would be great, obviously.”
Jon Rahm expressed his love for the PGA Tour and said he had hoped his move to LIV Golf would help bring a fractured game together.
“Unfortunately, it's not up to me.” Rahm said at Augusta National on Tuesday ahead of the Masters.
The defending champion said he has been focused on the LIV and his role as a team captain and hasn't put too much thought into it, but admitted there are aspects of life on the PGA Tour that he would like to experience again.
“I still love the PGA Tour,” Rahm said. “And I still hope that at some point I can compete there again.”
Rahm's decision to leave for LIV Golf last December was seen by some as a potential breaking point for negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Firm, but four months later the two sides have yet to come to a resolution.