Nick Taylor acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Darryl Webb
Nick Taylor’s second place finish at the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday made Canadian golf history.
His US$2 million in winnings was the most ever won by a Canadian at a single event, even topping previous winners, as the PGA Tour significantly increased its purses this season.
It also elevated the native of Abbotsford, B.C., to No. 73 in the official world golf rankings, putting five Canadians in the top 100 of the men’s standings for the first time ever.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is the top-ranked Canadian, sitting at 37th overall.
Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., is 53rd, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford is 63rd and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is 69th.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is just outside the top 100 at 112th.
Hughes won the Sanderson Farms Championship on Oct. 2, earning $1.422 million.
Svensson won the RSM Classic on Nov. 20 and earned $1.458 million.
Hughes, Svensson and Taylor are Nos. 12, 13, and 15 in the FedEx Cup standings, the PGA Tour’s rankings.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2023.
