Nick Taylor, Canadian contingent taking positives after tricky U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pa. — Nick Taylor grinded it out after a long climate prolong Sunday on the U.S. Open to report his highest profession major-championship end. 

Taylor used to be the one Canadian left at Oakmont Country Club throughout the afternoon, as the overall few teams suffered thru a 96-minute prolong because of rain and unplayable route prerequisites. 

Although Taylor struggled thru his remaining 5 holes, he advised Sportsnet he’ll take a large number of positives from this week. He shot a 4-over 74 within the ultimate spherical will end throughout the best 25. 

Taylor’s earlier highest essential end used to be a tie for 29th on the Masters in 2020. 

Taylor used to be grouped with Scottie Scheffler for Sunday’s finale at Oakmont, the place he were given off to a fantastic get started, leaving his first method shot to simply 5 ft and changing the birdie. He were given a brutal ruin on the second one hollow, touchdown his method to pin top however with the slope of the golf green and what kind of motion he were given on it from a rainy fairway, it rolled again 50 yards en path to Taylor creating a double bogey. 

Play used to be suspended at 4:02 p.m. ET because of climate and resumed at 5:37 p.m. Taylor used to be at the 12th inexperienced with a 9-foot birdie putt which slid via. 

Battling thru heavy rain that made a hard golfing route even tougher, Taylor bogeyed 3 of his ultimate 5 holes as he couldn’t moderately get his feels dialled in with both his method pictures or his putts.

But, he stated, being paired with the sport’s highest participant and navigating arguably the toughest golfing route at the PGA Tour calendar, will do wonders for his self assurance shifting ahead. 

Through early afternoon on Sunday, then again, there gave the look of there may were some Canadian historical past made. 

If Taylor used to be in a position to stick throughout the best 10, it could were simply the 3rd time in over 20 years the place Canadians have completed throughout the best 10 in no less than 3 of the 4 males’s essential championships.

Corey Conners completed tied for 8th on the Masters and Taylor Pendrith completed tie for 5th on the PGA Championship. 

The ultimate time any such tidy choice of effects took place for Canadians at majors used to be in 2004 when Stephen Ames completed tied for 9th on the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Mike Weir completed tied for 9th at The Open Championship and tied for fourth on the U.S. Open. 

Weir, after all, pulled off the feat himself in 2003 after profitable the Masters and following that up with a tie for 3rd on the U.S. Open and a tie for 7th on the PGA Championship. 

Taylor, Pendrith, Conners, and Mackenzie Hughes are all within the box at The Open Championship subsequent month at Royal Portrush and may just nonetheless pull off the feat. 

Pendrith had one of the vital rounds of the day Sunday, a 1-under 69. 

He rode a scorching putter into the home thru his again 9, making 4 birdies in his ultimate seven holes — together with 3 in a row from Nos. 12-14. 

He advised Sportsnet that he “feels good” heading into subsequent week on the Travelers Championship, some other signature match at the PGA Tour agenda. 

“Overall, I’m a little disappointed with (Saturday’s) round because I felt like I was in a decent position to be right there with a good round yesterday and it just ate me up. It can happen out here,” Pendrith stated. “To finish with a nice day today feels good. I’ll take the positives from today’s round and move forward.”

Hughes shot a 5-over 75 Sunday however controlled to carry on tight thru his again 9 — as he used to be 5-over for simply his first 9 holes. Hughes earned his approach into subsequent week’s signature match by way of his spot within the Aon Swing 5. It’s a really perfect accomplishment with there being fewer PGA Tour playing cards to be had for 2026 on the finish of this yr and with assured FedExCup issues to be had.

But subsequent week will even mark 8 occasions in a row for Hughes, which means that a pivot in his regimen. 

“It’s hard for me but a lot of times I just need to do less,” Hughes advised Sportsnet. “After rounds this week I in point of fact didn’t do any follow of any sort. That’s now not as a result of I don’t need to, however I simply really feel like my power wishes to stick up and this golfing route takes so much out of you.

“When you’re in week seven you need to make those sacrifices. Less practice, more rest. Week number eight — buckle up. For me, it’s tough because I’m trying to do minimal work. I’m wired to go grind and put in the time. I’m on an unusual stretch so that’s what you have to do.”

Conners used to be the fourth and ultimate Canadian to tee it up on the U.S. Open. He made the reduce as smartly however withdrew previous to Sunday’s ultimate spherical because of a wrist harm.

For now, Conners remains to be within the box on the Travelers along side Taylor, Hughes, Pendrith, and Adam Hadwin.