SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — At the end of a challenging WM Phoenix Open a year ago, fans and media spent plenty of time talking about the weather, the course conditions and some of the not-so-flattering viral moments from the week involving some unruly fans.
Perhaps lost in the chatter was a thrilling playoff victory for Nick Taylor, who outlasted Charley Hoffman in a two-hole extra session. Along the way, a clutch Taylor got hot with his putter, making birdie on five of his last six holes, including three straight birdies on the 18th hole – once in regulation, twice in the playoff – and then celebrating with his signature putter toss.
Winning the event in his adopted hometown came seemingly only after he finally figured out the greens at TPC Scottsdale.
“It was interesting for me to look at because out of all the West Coast courses, it was one that I had never just had great results, and when I looked at it really, it was mostly putting. I just had a really hard time reading these greens,” said the 36-year-old Canadian, who played college golf at Washington. “I think it probably was beyond frustration because I live here. I should see these greens, I should know them like the back of my hand.”
In 2023, Taylor finished runnerup to Scottie Scheffler. In 2024, he finally sealed the deal. He credits his finishes the last two years to his caddie. The two started their partnership during the fall of 2022.
“It’s not a coincidence that Dave Markle, my caddie, his first Waste Management was two years ago, and I think early on I remember the first round we’re kind of reading a putt and I could tell he agreed with me but maybe saw something a little different, and it was the same thing; I missed it where I was kind of reading it, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I saw a little more’ and I’m like, ‘Well, don’t do that again. Just tell me where you see it because I’ve had trouble here.'”
Taylor then started getting some putts to drop over the first two days.
“I think seeing the ball going in, gaining a little more confidence with the reads, has made all the difference,” he said. “I think last year I was 1 or 2 in putting for the week, so when I look at those first eight years, there’s a huge difference.”
Now back in the Arizona desert, Taylor is looking for not only a title defense but also a second win in 2025, as he won the Sony Open in Hawaii three weeks ago.
“Winning but having a couple weeks after that where just playing solid golf, I feel like I’m carrying that into here and a lot of good vibes when I come back.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open 2025: Nick Taylor’s improved putting led to victory
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