Canadian Taylor heroic at home
Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole, the parfive 18th, to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday in Toronto.
Taylor tossed his putter into the air and jumped into the arms of his caddie after the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career, and fellow Canadian players Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin were among those who ran out to the green to congratulate him.
“I’m speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home,” Taylor said.
The previous player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadianborn champion, winning in 1909 and 1914.
Taylor curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 17-under-par 271 at Oakdale. He shot a sixunder 66.
The 35-year-old Taylor, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia, won for the third time on the PGA Tour. He fired a 63 on Saturday to begin the final round three strokes behind leader C.T. Pan.
Fleetwood, a six-time winner on the European tour, remains winless on the PGA Tour.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy had a 72 and tied for ninth, five shots back. Tyrrell Hatton (64), Aaron Rai (69) and Pan (70) finished one shot out of the playoff.
Buhai hangs on
Ashleigh Buhai seized the lead early with four birdies in her first five holes, got up and down for one last birdie for a six-under 65, and held off Hyo Joo Kim for a one-stroke victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, N.J.
It was the fourth win worldwide over the last 10 months for the South African, who finished at 14under 199 in the 54-hole event on the Bay Course at Seaview. Buhai, 34, won the Women’s British Open last August for her first major and first LPGA Tour victory.
Kim, in the final pairing, birdied the par-three 17th to give herself a chance, but she needed to eagle the par-five 18th to match Buhai and could manage only a birdie. She shot a 68.
Rookie Yan Liu closed with a 67 and finished third, three strokes back.
Stricker prevails
Steve Stricker’s latest win on the PGA Tour Champions felt as big as any in his career, as he closed with a three-under 69 in Madison to win the American Family Insurance Championship in his native Wisconsin for his fourth title this year.
Stricker already has six Champions majors, including the two played this year. This tournament was one his foundation began before he turned 50, and he finally got it.
Tied with Paul Broadhurst to start the final round, Stricker finished at 18-under 198 at University Ridge Golf Club and won by five strokes over Broadhurst (74) and Steve Alker (70).
Whitnell a winner
Dale Whitnell held his nerve to win the Scandinavian Mixed event in Stockholm, Sweden, for the first win of his career on the European tour.
The English player, 34, shot a two-under 70 to finish at 21-under 267 for a threestroke victory.