Hours After the $1,620,000 Win, PGA Tour Pro Unveils Torments He Went Through to Break a 69-Year-Old Curse

After the 2023 Canadian Open drew to an end, raucous celebrations soon followed suit. From former Masters champion Mike Weir to 2-time PGA Tour winner Corey Conners, the who’s who of Canadian golf charged to the green to celebrate.

After all, this was the first time in nearly seven decades that a homegrown golfer had claimed the national championship! However, the sensational victory did not come without hardships, as told by the new Canadian Open winner after his win. Let’s dive in to find out more!

PGA Tour pro looks back on his hardships after the Canadian Open win

“It is not hyperbole to say, that is one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history,” noted Jim Nantz of CBS Sports after Nick Taylor beat Tommy Fleetwood to win his 3rd PGA Tour title at Oakdale Golf and Country Club on Sunday. Nantz couldn’t have summed it up more perfectly, as evidenced by the emotions that were on display following the win.

In 1954, Pat Fletcher became the first-ever Canadian to emerge victorious in the country’s national championship. 69 years later, Taylor became only the second Canadian ever to achieve this amazing feat. The groundbreaking victory is a special one for the 35-year-old pro for many reasons, especially given the challenges he faced while growing up.

Taylor, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, had to play the sport during the harsh winters in his home country. “You are going to be cold. But you figure it out with your buddies,” he recounted in a recent episode of the Fore Play podcast. “You kind of walk around in the slop. And there’s nobody out there.” The golfer even shed light on the experiences of fellow Canadian pros MacKenzie Hughes and Corey Conners, ultimately saying, “You grind it out in the cold. And we figured it out somehow.”

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Both Nick Taylor and Tommy Fleetwood had fans hooked to the edge of their edges during their thrilling playoff. The former eventually made a jaw-dropping eagle to take home the biggest chunk of the $9,000,000 prize purse!

How much did Nick Taylor win at the 2023 Canadian Open?

Despite an opening round 3-over 75, Nick Taylor forced his way back into the Canadian Open over the next 54 holes. In fact, the third round of the event saw the golfer card a 9-under 63, a benchmark for the Oakdale Golf and Country Club. On Sunday, Taylor’s heroics continued, with the golfer holing from 70 feet on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood.

After his win, Taylor took home an incredible $1,620,000 in earnings. Meanwhile, runner-up and World No. 21 Tommy Fleetwood walked away with $981,000. Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners were the other Canadians who had a good outing in Oakdale. Hadwin, who finished T12, pocketed $178,650. Meanwhile, the 2023 Valero Texas Open winner, Conners, tied for the 20th position to make $102,330.

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What did you think of Nick Taylor’s display at the Canadian Open? Let us know in the comments!