Oh, Canada, the true north, strong and free! If you missed the thrilling action of the Canadian Open on Sunday, you missed out on a remarkable moment in Canadian sports history. Nick Taylor achieved the unimaginable by ending a 69-year drought for a Canadian to win the open on home soil by coming out victorious on Sunday. This year’s Canadian Open took place at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, marking the first time the open was hosted here in the club’s history. I had the privilege of attending the second round, and the course was in impeccable condition. I eagerly anticipate returning in 2026 when the Canadian Open will be hosted here once again.
The weekend was filled with excitement and drama as Nick Taylor triumphed over Tommy Fleetwood on the fourth playoff hole with a sensational 72-foot eagle putt, sending the thousands of Canadian fans who were in attendance into a frenzy. Fellow PGA Canadian players rushed the green to celebrate with Taylor, creating an unforgettable sports moment. Amidst the chaos, we witnessed another incredible incident when a security guard mistakenly took Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin for a fan and truck sticked him while he attempted to shower Taylor with champagne on the green. However, in true Canadian fashion, they embraced, laughed it off, and turned it into a lighthearted moment. The scene was truly magical, and even now, the memory gives me chills.
Nick Taylor’s journey to victory had a rocky start with a 3-over par 75 on Thursday, placing him at 121st after the opening round. Winning didn’t even cross his mind as he knew he had to deliver a stellar performance during the second round just to make the cut. As I mentioned earlier, I was present on Friday when Taylor, sitting at 2-over-par on the 4th hole, seemed to be on the brink of missing the weekend. However, Taylor caught fire and birdied holes 6 to 8, ultimately shooting a remarkable 5-under 67, securing his place in the weekend field. But he didn’t stop there. He maintained his momentum in the third round, setting a course record of 63, which included an impressive scorecard of 9 birdies and 9 pars. Going into the final round, he was 3 strokes behind the leaders, but he continued to perform admirably, shooting 4-under on the front nine. Though he experienced a couple of bogeys on the back nine, Taylor finished strong with back-to-back birdies, carding a 66 and securing the clubhouse lead at -17, with four groups still on the course and in contention.
The leaderboard was tightly packed, with players within a few strokes of the lead. In the final pairing, Tommy Fleetwood birdied holes 16 and 17, tying Taylor as he approached the par-5 18th hole. The entire nation held its breath as Fleetwood, who had birdied the hole for three consecutive days, settled for a par, leading to a playoff. Despite Fleetwood’s multiple wins on the European Tour, he had yet to secure a victory on the PGA Tour, making it feel like this could be his breakthrough moment. Taylor and Fleetwood battled it out in the playoff, matching each other with birdie, par, and par on the first three holes, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion on the fourth playoff hole.
Both players failed to find the fairway with their tee shots, but Taylor found himself in a more favorable position, allowing him to reach the green in two shots, while Tommy had to lay up short. On his third shot, Tommy executed a respectable wedge shot, leaving him with an 11-foot birdie putt and reigniting the pressure on Taylor. Stepping up to his 72-foot eagle putt, the announcers suggested that a solid two-putt would be a good outcome from Taylor’s position. However, Taylor had different plans. He struck the lengthy eagle putt with precision, sending it straight into the heart of the cup. The entire nation of Canada erupted, including myself, as I leaped from the couch in ecstatic screams, even startling both the cats who were watching alongside my partner and me. It was undeniably a victory for the ages, a moment that Canadian golf desperately needed.
The Canadian Open has often been overlooked on the PGA Tour, typically scheduled the week before or after a Major tournament. This unfortunate timing causes many top players to skip the event, either to prepare for the upcoming Major or to take a break after participating in one. It’s truly a pity, but I hope that after this week, the PGA will consider rescheduling the tournament in the future and granting the Canadian Open the dedicated week it truly deserves.
Next year’s Open will be held in Hamilton Ontario, and Nick Taylor will aim to defend his title. Canadian golf is currently thriving, with an unprecedented group of talented Canadian golfers simultaneously competing on the PGA Tour. In this year alone, four Canadians have emerged victorious in professional golf tournaments, a remarkable achievement that would have seemed unbelievable just 3-5 years ago. Golf Canada deserves immense credit for their exceptional efforts in nurturing young players, and it’s about time that Canada is gaining recognition in the golfing world.
I genuinely believe that we will witness a Canadian golfer triumph in a Major tournament in the near future, a remarkable feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Mike Weir’s magical win at the 2003 Masters. As the US Open takes place this week in LA, seven Canadians are competing, and I can’t wait to see how they perform on the grand stage.