Nick Taylor’s putter shot after his victory at the RBC Canadian Open was the exclamation point in what was possibly the best year in Canadian golf history.
Taylor holed a 72-foot putt for eagle, ending a four-hole overtime against England’s Tommy Fleetwood and allowing him to win the Canadian men’s championship on June 11. He became the first Canadian to win the title in 69 years.
But the successes of Canadians on the golf course have been even greater and at all levels. They won four PGA tournaments, and one LPGA.
“I think Canada has never had more success in the professional ranks, especially on the PGA Tour,” said Taylor, who became the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Our goal, as players, with Golf Canada, is to help increase our presence on the circuit.
“The more Canadian players there are, the more likely we are to win more tournaments. »
Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., joined Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., among winners on the Tour the PGA during the 2022-23 season. This is a record number of victories by Canadians in a PGA season.
“It’s a great brotherhood,” Taylor said. We often train together, eat dinner together and encourage each other.
“I think we help each other get better and I think that’s why we’ve continued to improve and reach new heights. »
Conners, who won the Texas Open for a second time in April, recalled that victory was the best feeling in professional golf.
“It’s the highlight of my season,” Conners said. I’m also proud to have qualified for the Tour Championship, been in the top 30 in the FedEx Cup and had the opportunity to win the FedEx Cup. »
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., won the Tournament of Champions in January, adding a 13th LPGA title to her tally, the most for a Canadian athlete in professional golf, regardless of gender.
“It’s been an up-and-down year,” Henderson said. I was happy to have the opportunity to defend my title at the Evian Championship and finish in second place. It was nice to be in the race again.
“I can say the same thing about the Tour Championship in November. It’s always a major goal at the start of the season to try to win this title and the CME Globe in November. »
The successes of the Canadians have extended beyond the PGA and LPGA tours.
Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., scored victories on the Korn Ferry Secondary Tour and received full-time PGA status in 2024. eight Canadians on tour, as Silverman and Sloan join Taylor, Conners, Hughes, Svensson, Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford.
Hamilton’s Alena Sharp won an Epson Tour tournament and finished five times in the top 10 on the girls’ high school circuit. She also helped Canada win bronze at the Pan American Games this fall in Santiago, Chile.
Sharp regained her full-time LPGA status via qualifying, as did Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., and Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont. They will join Henderson and Maude-Aimée Leblanc, from Sherbrooke, during the next season.
With the Paris Olympics approaching next summer and the Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in September, Taylor expects 2024 to be another stellar season for Canadian golf.
“These two events are at the top of my list of events I want to attend next year,” he said.