WITB: Nick Taylor wins in Canada with mixed bag

Nick Taylor claimed his national open in dramatic fashion, after a sensational four-hole playoff. 

The Canadian star started off with a shaky first round but quickly got things on track, shooting a 67 to make the cut by two. 

It was his third round where the home favourite really kicked things up a notch with a superb display, shooting a nine-under-par round of 63. 

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Starting the fourth round three shots back from the leader, the now three-time PGA Tour winner quickly found his way into contention. The 35-year-old’s birdie on 18 completed a final round of 66, good enough to give him the clubhouse lead.  

Tommy Fleetwood needed a birdie on the par-5 18th to spoil Taylor’s party, but in the end he did well to force a playoff after an 18th hole that wasn’t played how he planned.  

After three playoff holes were halved, the pair went back down the par-5 18th, where Taylor produced the most incredible of finishes, holing a 72-foot eagle putt. 

That putt came courtesy of a club that’s been in his bag since 2017 and was on form all week. 

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Taylor’s Spider Tour Red has the T-line alignment on the head, which helped Taylor to get lined up and hit the centre of the face more often. Averaging 27 putts per round and fifth in strokes gained his putting was his standout asset this week.

Here’s the full what’s in the bag from Nick Taylor. 

WITB: Nick Taylor 

Driver: Titleist TSi3, 10° Shaft: (Fujikura Atmos Blue 6 X) 

3-wood: Titleist TSi2, 15°

5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max, 18°

Hybrid: Titleist TSR2, 21° 

Irons: (4) Titleist T200; (5-9): Titleist T100; (PW): Titleist Vokey SM8 

Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM8 (54°); Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (58°) 

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red 

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x 

James Tait is bunkered’s Gear Editor. Want to know how the latest Callaway driver, Vokey wedge or Scotty Cameron putter performs? He’s the guy to ask. Better yet, just watch his videos on the bunkered YouTube channel. One of the biggest hitters in the UK, James also competes on the World Long Drive circuit and is a descendent of former Amateur champion Freddie Tait.

Gear Editor