Pan Falls One Shot Shy of Canadian Open Play-Off

Toronto, Canada: Chinese Taipei’s CT Pan fell one shot shy of joining a play-off at the RBC Canadian Open as a tied third finish maintained his momentum following a recent return from a lengthy wrist injury.

Holding an overnight two-shot lead, Pan closed with a two-under 70 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club as local favourite Nick Taylor sank a sensational 72-foot eagle conversion at the fourth extra hole to defeat England’s Tommy Fleetwood and send the home crowds into raptures.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, fell short in his bid for a three-peat with a closing 72 leaving him in tied ninth at the US$9 million PGA Tour event.

Pan, aged 31, was disappointed he failed to secure a second career PGA Tour win, although the high finish ensured a second successive top-five result following a solo fourth at the AT&T Byron Nelson.

“It’s still a very good week considering I switched three hotels. I didn't sleep well the first couple of nights,” said the former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship contender, who went out in 38 but finished strongly with four birdies over the closing five holes.

“I did not start well but a lot of lessons to learn from that. I gave myself a lot of opportunities on the back nine. That’s all you can do,” said Pan, who held the 54-hole lead for the first time in his career.

He conceded that nerves got the better of him early on but believes the lessons learned will put him in good stead as he looks to qualify for the FedEx Cup Play-offs, limited to the top-70 players from the FedEx Cup standings. Pan moved up to 104th position this week after being outside the top-200 when he returned to action following a five-month layoff due to a left wrist injury.

“I was nervous – and that’s good. That means I care a lot. Just having a hard time to find my rhythm and a lot of in-between club distances on the first 14 holes. It’s a non-stop learning process in golf. I will keep learning,” said Pan, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games bronze medallist.

Taylor, 35, became the first Canadian to win his home Open since 1954 after he converted the longest putt of his career in extra time. It delivered his third PGA Tour victory, and first since winning the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

“This is unbelievable,” said Taylor after his snaky 72-foot putt on the 18th hole. “I can't even describe it. This is the most incredible feeling. The fans were unbelievable all day. Every green, every tee box I was getting ovations and to make those last two putts to give myself a chance to do that, I’m speechless.

“I just tried to keep my head down. I didn’t look at a board until probably 17. I knew bogeying 16 with the atmosphere I was probably at best tied, maybe one back. I saw the board on 17 and knew I needed to birdie at least one coming in,” added the Canadian, who closed with a 66 for a 17-under 271 total.

Fleetwood rued a missed opportunity on the par-five 18th in regulation play as his hopes for a first PGA Tour win ended in dramatic fashion. He was tied for the lead on 17-under but scrambled to save par and headed into a play-off. “I had my chances. It wasn’t to be this time. Obviously the last was disappointing,” said Fleetwood, who settled for his fifth career runner-up finish on the PGA Tour.

China’s Carl Yuan, the 36-hole leader, finished tied 18th after a closing 70 for his best finish this season while Korean SH Kim was joint 25th, moving to 71st position on the FedEx Cup point list.