Scottsdale, Arizona -Nick Taylor has nothing to do in the President's Cup last fall more than his home country. He had never played on an international team before, so playing with Mike Wear at Royal Montorior would have been a dream.
Given what happened at TPC Scottsdale last year, Taylor knocked off Charlie Hoffman, and his spots on the team were almost guaranteed. He bent the clutch gene by stretching and made five birdies with his last two six holes (two are in the playoffs), so he ranked 28th in the official world golf ranking, in the top 10 of the Fedex Cup. I was. His path to the president's cup was clear.
He had all Canada supported him. Eight months before the People's Open in Scott's Dale, Taylor became a Canadian hero. He won the Eagle's 72 footer, won the 2023 RBC Canada Open at the fourth extra hall, and became a Canadian who won the event for the first time in 69 years. Because it was a national celebration, the tournament official changed the logo forever to represent the silhouette of his celebration.
This is all saying that after winning in Phoenix in 2024, Taylor felt pressure that could not be overcome. He is looking forward to both the President's Cup and the Olympics, and is worried about what team will not make.
“It's not great in golf,” Taylor said on Taylor.
Throughout the spring and summer, his future weight, Taylor struggled and did not look like a player who wanted a way to victory in Toronto and Scottsdale. He missed an Augustanatal cut and missed the cut in both the PGA championship and the RBC Canada Open. In the U.S. Open and the Royaltoon Open Championship, the cuts that had been missed continued, and suddenly noticed that Taylor was outside the top 50 in the Fedex Cup.
“I think it's been a few months. [the Presidents Cup]Probably, it was just too much pressure to prove that he was in the team.
His shape was terrible, and Wear decided to pass the Taylor.
“I was sorry that Memphis did not make the top 50, but after that I did not pick it up. [for the International Team]I re -evaluated it because it was some intestinal punch. I didn't think it would be necessary to reconsider the wheels in golf games. I felt like there were some outside things -I felt that everything was trying to be qualified last year, “Taylor explained on Tuesday.
“I worked a little hard in terms of mental aspects and tried to make some of the golf swing mechanically fine -tuning some things. Is clearly good. “
These improvements have been very useful since then. Last month, he started the 2025 season with GE and won the Sony Open in Hawaii. He miraculously closed the chips to the 18th hole, finished 16 under, tying Nico Echaravalia to force excess holes. Later, in the second playoff hall, Taylor gave a great ups and down from the green 46 yards, and Ecavaria put three times for par, giving Canada a fifth career PGA tour.
“I'm looking forward to having a year of playing a regular PGA tour schedule,” said Taylor.
“I'm not trying to participate in the Olympics. I'm not trying to get the President Cup team, and I'm doing it deep in my heart. That's it. I go to a good play as much as I can and get to know that it is perfect for my games and my results. “
The mentality has paid dividends so far. His victory in Wirae has secured a schedule for the remaining period of the year. This is because the Taylor has begun to play at all signing events.
“It's not a great thing for me, when I'm trying to protect bad things or try to protect the lead when playing golf,” said Taylor.
“When I'm actually trying to chase things, I'm better. That's what I tried to protect the place I was on the team last year or not play badly. I think this is not a good thing as possible, but I hope it will be as good as possible. “
When the defending champion in the tournament speaks during a press conference, they often feel nervous and pressure to play well with defense. Regardless of the tournament, the limelight shines brightly on them and stresses their week. They are often placed in a hot group and applied to Taylor this week. He plays with Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Spiece in the first two days.
However, at a press conference at the media center under the TPC Scott's Dale Club House, Taylor seemed to be as cool and gathered as before. At the age of 36, he has been searching for several souls since he was overlooked in the President's Cup, but he spent his time in 2025. It was easy to recognize.
“If I struggled in the past, if I had a poor start, I had to make this hole a birdie.” I will try to script, and I try to leave it, open and come. I think it was useful for golf acceptance. This must be at a high level, “said Taylor.
“A lot of things I feel in the golf course I am working on are that, along with the spiritual aspects, in the round, it looks essentially the future appearance.
Anything is possible -for the past three years, we do not look for Taylor victory in Toronto, Scottsdale, and Honolulu. But this is golf. This is a sport that all could drop crash at once, and Taylor experienced directly as the 2024 season progressed.
He has experienced all of this, learned from it, and applied his strategy to his overall approach, and Taylor feels zero pressure this week. It makes him a dangerous threat and is as dangerous as his putter in the playoffs.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer playing SB Nation. Please follow him in X @jack_milko。