(Toronto) The fans couldn’t have asked for a better end to the tournament.
British Columbian Nick Taylor putted a long putt on the fourth hole of overtime and beat Tommy Fleetwood to win the Canadian Open on Sunday.
72 feet from the hole, Taylor putt spectacularly and the ball finally ended its swing against the flag and at the bottom of the cup. It was the longest putt of his career.
Taylor also ended Canada’s 69-year winless streak at the men’s tournament. Pat Fletcher, in 1954, was the last Canadian to triumph in front of his supporters.
Taylor started the day tied for eighth at 11 under after setting the course record at Oakdale Golf Club with a 63 on Saturday.
For about an hour, neither golfer seemed to want to take the win. However, the end of the final round announced an interesting extension.
Taylor put the pressure on, birding twice on her final two holes to take the lead. Fleetwood, however, tied it with a birdie at 16e and 17e pennants.
Soaring on the mound of 18e hole, the Englishman sent his first two shots into the long grass and his third very deep on the green. He had to settle for a normal.
Both golfers birdied on the first overtime hole, but then offered erratic play that did not serve their cause on the next two overtime holes. Taylor ultimately closed the books without giving her opponent a chance to stay in the fight.
Taylor and Fleetwood finished the first 72 holes with a cumulative score of minus 17. CT Pan (70), Aaron Rai (67) and Tyrrell Hatton (64) tied for third, just one stroke from an appearance in the extension.