John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
The mid-winter blahs are one thing Nick Taylor has solely heard about.
Taylor has received 4 of his 5 profession PGA Tour titles within the winter months, most just lately profitable the Sony Open in Hawaii on Jan. 12 in a playoff with Colombia’s Nico Echavarría. He’ll defend his WM Phoenix Open championship this week, which he additionally received in a playoff, besting Charley Hoffman of america final 12 months.
“It’s a mix of recharging, getting some relaxation, getting a bunch of household time, but in addition being motivated and dealing on the issues that I need to enhance,” Taylor mentioned in a latest video convention with Canadian reporters. “Speaking with my group if it’s both my golf swing or getting myself within the gymnasium or the psychological facet, and popping out keen and able to go.”
Geography is an element, too.
The PGA Tour begins its schedule in Hawaii and on the west coast, staying in hotter climes through the winter. Consequently, Taylor received the 2020 AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional Am in California, the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona, and the Sony Open in Hawaii.
“I grew up on a whole lot of these grasses and had good outcomes all year long,” the golfer from Abbotsford, B.C., mentioned. “The consolation degree could be very excessive as properly, so there’s a couple of components there.
“The previous few years, I’ve undoubtedly motivated myself all through the low season and got here out able to go.”
5 different Canadians will be part of Taylor on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., will look to enhance on his No. 22 rating within the FedEx Cup standings, as will Adam Hadwin (a hundredth) additionally from Abbotsford, Adam Svensson (T121st) of Surrey, B.C., Mackenzie Hughes (124th) of Dundas, Ont., and Ben Silverman (168th) of Thornhill, Ont.
Taylor mentioned that the duties of being the defending champion on the WM Phoenix Open aren’t too onerous in comparison with the RBC Canadian Open, which he received in 2023.
“Only a few extra issues that type of take your time. You’ve obtained to handle your follow time,” mentioned the 36-year-old. “That might be the most important distinction.
“I feel what’s good this week, say, in comparison with the Canadian Open, final 12 months, is it’s the identical golf course, a spot that I’m comfy coming again to, to what I do know.”
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DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., will tee it up on the Business Financial institution Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Membership on Thursday. He’s 138th on the European-based tour’s rankings after 5 occasions.
KORN FERRY TOUR — Third-ranked Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent into this week’s Astara Golf Championship. He’s grouped with No. 70 Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., for the primary two rounds of the occasion at Nation Membership de Bogota in Colombia. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Etienne Papineau of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald are additionally within the area.
LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is ranked 14th on the Rolex Race to CME Globe standings heading into the Founders Cup in Bradenton, Fla. Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., can even be within the first common area occasion of the LPGA Tour season.
