The 'magic wand' of the 2024 Phoenix Open champion

America With a red-tipped putter, Nick Taylor recorded 26 birdies and just three bogeys on the way to winning the PGA Tour event known as the world's busiest golf tournament.

The 2024 Phoenix Open ended at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona this morning, February 12, with Taylor taking home the trophy and $1.584 million. This was the reward for the 35-year-old Canadian golfer after defeating his American senior Charley Hoffman with a birdie on the second extra hole from a 3.3-meter putt.

Taylor putted 3.3 meters from the hole for birdie on the extra hole.

The previous round ended in a tie when Taylor and Hoffman both birdied. Both duels took place on the par-4 18th. Also on this "stage", Taylor putted accurately from 2.7 meters away for a birdie result.

Taylor putted 2.7 meters from the target for birdie on the par-4 18th hole.

That shot sent Hoffman into a penalty hole as the pair were tied at under-21 after four rounds of the par-71 course at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.

Taylor finished the tournament with the highest hole-to-hole efficiency, with a total distance of approximately 140 meters. He also set a new 18-hole record for the tournament and the course, shooting 60 in the opening round, including 11 birdies and no bogeys. In 2023, Taylor finished second with a score of -17, but received $2.18 million from the $20 million prize fund due to the tournament's special status on the PGA Tour. This year, the event returned to regular status, resulting in a prize fund of $8.8 million.

At the recent Phoenix Open, Taylor used a red mallet-head TaylorMade Spider Tour putter. It has also helped him win twice on the PGA Tour, at the 2020 Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the 2023 Canadian Open. Taylor won the Canadian championship after a 22-meter putt for an eagle on the fourth extra hole.

Taylor was elated after successfully making a birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole, pulling Hoffman into a play-off and winning the 2024 Phoenix Open. Photo: AP

After finishing the shot, Taylor threw down his putter and spread his arms wide in victory. This pose was the inspiration for the 2024 Canadian Open logo, which is scheduled for late May. Because the pose marks the first time in 69 years that a native Canadian golfer has won a home PGA Tour event.

The 2024 Phoenix Open results marked Taylor's fourth PGA Tour win, 10 years after his first. Taylor has been playing professional golf since 2010, currently playing 259 tournaments in the US's top golf arena with a total prize money of nearly 15 million USD.

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