Nick Taylor's PGA Championship Hopes Crash at Aronimink
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Nick Taylor's final-round plan at the PGA Championship was to stay close to the lead and summon the Sunday magic that has defined his career. However, his strategy only worked for half the day, as a disastrous back nine dashed his hopes of becoming the second Canadian man to win a major championship.
Taylor, 38, began the final round at four-under-par, tied for second at Aronimink Golf Club. After making the turn just one stroke behind the leader, a catastrophic back nine saw him tumble to even par, finishing in a tie for 26th place.
"Yeah, frustrated," Taylor said minutes after the round. "Just disappointed."
Bogey-Free Front Nine
Paired with Jon Rahm in the second-last group, Taylor matched the Spaniard's pace, playing the front nine in a bogey-free one-under 34. He avoided getting caught up in Rahm's early birdies, sticking to his plan with textbook golf on the challenging Donald Ross-designed course outside Philadelphia. Taylor missed just one fairway and one green on the front side.
"It's the first time I've been in legit contention," Taylor said of major championships. "With nine holes to go, I had a real chance."
Taylor's short game was among the best in the field all week, but his driver, which had been a strength, went cold at the worst time. Beginning at the ninth hole, he missed four of the next five fairways, and Aronimink's thick rough punished any errant shots.
Disappointing Finish
"Just a tough back nine," Taylor said. "Lost a few shots left during that back nine. I kind of stopped trusting what I was doing, especially with some trouble left. So there were some decent shots that just didn't pan out as well, and made bogeys from there. Yeah, it was difficult."
Taylor made six bogeys on the back nine, eliminating any chance of joining Mike Weir as the only Canadian man to win a major. Despite his recent success—winning tournaments in each of the past three seasons and becoming a five-time PGA Tour winner—contending at majors had been elusive until now.
"I've got two weeks off to think about it, so right now I'll just wallow in my pity," Taylor said.
Corey Conners shot an even-par 70 to finish at three-over, tied for 55th. Taylor Pendrith carded a one-over 71 to finish at two-over, tied for 44th. Canadian rookie Sudarshan Yellamaraju missed the cut.
Taylor's week in Pennsylvania showed promise, but a late collapse leaves him to reflect on what might have been.
