Canadian professional golfer Nick Taylor is back on familiar and friendly turf as he prepares to defend his title at the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii. The tournament begins its first round on Thursday at the scenic Waiʻalae Country Club, a course that has been exceptionally kind to the Abbotsford, B.C., native in recent years.
A Home Course Advantage in Hawaii
For Nick Taylor, Waiʻalae Country Club feels like a second home. The 36-year-old secured his fifth PGA Tour victory at this very event last year, defeating Colombia's Nico Echavarria with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. His success is no fluke; Taylor has finished in the top 11 in each of his last four appearances at the Sony Open.
"I felt like this has been a course that I've really started to enjoy," Taylor said during a Wednesday news conference. He credited his deep familiarity with the greens and conditions for his consistent performance. "I see the lines really well on the greens. I've played them in the nine years probably in every wind condition possible, so really no surprises anymore."
His confidence is backed by impressive statistics: Taylor has shot only one round above 70 in his last 20 rounds played at the Honolulu course.
Strong Canadian Contingent at Waiʻalae
Taylor will not be the only Maple Leaf in the field. He is part of a notable group of Canadians competing this week. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ontario, who was the highest-ranked Canadian on tour in 2025 finishing 17th in the FedEx Cup, is playing. Taylor Pendrith from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., are also in the tournament.
Two newcomers, A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., and Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., will be making their debuts as full-fledged PGA Tour members. Taylor, who finished 25th in last year's FedEx Cup and was the sole Canadian winner on the men's tour in 2025, expressed admiration for Conners' steady play.
"I really love the trophies, but I would also love to be more consistent," Taylor admitted. "He's somebody I aspire to be with his consistency. He's phenomenal. That being said, I really enjoy being in moments and being able to close the deal and win tournaments is ultimately what we're trying to do."
Looking to Repeat a Winning Grind
Reflecting on his 2025 victory, Taylor recalled a demanding final day. "It was a grind of a day," he said. "I didn't really look at the leaderboards until maybe holes 13 or 14 but I had a sense of what was going on." His ability to navigate that pressure culminated in his third career playoff win on tour.
For the first two rounds, Taylor will be grouped with England's Aaron Rai and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. As he sets out to defend his crown, his proven track record at Waiʻalae Country Club makes him one of the clear favourites and a focal point for Canadian sports fans.
In related tour news, on the Korn Ferry Tour, Canada's Roger Sloan finished second at The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island on Wednesday, just three shots behind winner Taylor Dickson. Vancouver's Stuart Macdonald tied for 28th, and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., finished tied for 51st.
