Nick Taylor’s triumphant putter flip at the RBC Canadian Open was emblematic of an extraordinary year for Canadian golf. Taylor secured victory with a spectacular 72-foot eagle putt, concluding a four-hole playoff against England’s Tommy Fleetwood. This win marked the first time a Canadian had claimed the title in 69 years. However, Canada’s golfing achievements extended far beyond this historic victory, with Canadians achieving success at every level of the professional game, including four wins on the PGA Tour and one on the LPGA Tour.
Taylor, hailing from Abbotsford, B.C., was joined by Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., as PGA Tour winners during the 2022-23 season. Notably, this season witnessed the highest number of wins by Canadians in a single PGA Tour campaign.
The camaraderie among Canadian golfers played a crucial role in their success, with practice rounds, shared houses, and mutual support driving them to excel and reach new heights in their careers.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., further contributed to Canada’s golfing triumph by securing her 13th victory on the LPGA Tour, making her the most successful professional player in Canadian golf history, regardless of gender.
Canadian golf’s success extended beyond the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., secured victories on the Korn Ferry Tour, granting them full-time PGA Tour status in 2024. Consequently, Canada will boast eight representatives on the PGA Tour. Alena Sharp, from Hamilton, earned LPGA Tour status and secured Canada’s second-ever golf medal at the Pan American Games, while other Canadians also earned LPGA Tour status.
In the amateur arena, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., won the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Men’s Amateur, respectively, marking only the third time both titles were claimed by Canadians in the same year since 2011.
With the Paris Olympics and the return of the Presidents Cup on the horizon, 2024 promises to be an even more significant year for Canadian golf, building upon the remarkable achievements of the past year.