Practically at the same time as the Chiefs of Kansas scored for the first time in the Super Bowl, in the throes of the second quarter, Nick Taylor achieved his particular touchdown in Arizona. Victory for the Canadian golfer in the Waste Management Phoenix Open after defeating Charley Hoffman in the second playoff hole. Allow the cliché: it was a finale that makes fans. Maximum excitement, clean birdie battle and determination to make the decisive putts. A beautiful battle between two gladiators.
Hoffman handed in the best card of the last day, a brilliant 64 ‘kick’ clean for a final result of -21. For several minutes it seemed to be enough to win. The story was perfect. 47-year-old player with severe back problems, no victories since 2016 and ambassador of Waste Management, main sponsor of the tournament.
His stretch in the ranking with eagle on hole 13, birdie and birdie on 14 and 15 put the rest against the ropes. The result of -21 placed in the clubhouse was very demanding and everyone was giving in. Everyone but one. Nick Taylor saved the best for last and finished his round with a birdie on 15, birdie on 16 and birdie on 18 to tie. Nothing else was worth it. He came out one from Hoffman and took him to the playoff with a sensational shot from the right rough just over two meters from the hole.
In the playoff, the two best snipers of the tournament faced each other. No one has putted better than them this week. And they well accredited it in that first playoff hole. They hit two very good drives to street, two excellent shots at five and three meters and they holed the two putts. First Taylor, further away, and second Hoffman, with all the pressure. Wonderful.
The Super Bowl was already underway and the night was falling on the coliseum of Scottsdale. Only one more playoff hole could be played. If there was no winner, they would have to leave it for Monday. Both Hoffman and Taylor missed the exit. Charley, who you imagine selling ice cream in his van in a very American low-rise housing estate, ended up in the left bunker, in the famous church benches that protect the 18th street and that were made in the image and likeness of Oakmont. Taylor, on the other hand, ended up in the right rough. Better situation for Nick, more favorable angle for Hoffman.
The two hunted the green, but our favorite ice cream seller, who could also leave you milk at the door every morning, was further away. He missed his birdie putt and Taylor, again, had a putt to win. Just over three meters. He didn’t even blink. Right down the middle. Three consecutive birdies on the 18th to win. Five birdies in his last six holes. The man who started the week with a stratospheric round of 60 shots took the victory.
In that playoff could have been perfectly Scottie Scheffler, but in the end his persistent ghosts ended up ruining his day. Brutal short circuit on the greens between holes 13 and 15. Three consecutive putts missed from less than a meter and a half. That’s impossible. His Number One deployment was again astonishing. There is no one on the planet better than him from tee to green at the moment. He putted up to thirteen times from less than four and a half meters for birdie. He left six on the way. If this Sunday they had given him Taylor or Hoffman’s putter, he would have gone down with a cap of 60 shots.
It’s the fourth victory for Nick Taylor on the PGA Tour. At 35, he is in the best moment of his career. He won last year’s RBC Canadian Open, after also defeating Tommy Fleetwood in the playoff, and now he has won again. Eight months later. He moves up to 26th place in the world ranking, the best position ever in his career. If ever his life depends on a shot of less than 100 meters, do not hesitate to entrust it to him.
