2021 Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Top 10 power rankings
Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus. Pretty good company, right?
Those are some of the names that Nick Taylor joined when he was added to the ranks of those to win the Pebble Beach Pro-Am by four or more strokes.
The Canadian dazzled in 2020 with scores of 63-66-69-70. Taylor won by four over Kevin Streelman (who I ranked No. 11 for this week) and five over the aforementioned Mickelson.
“Yeah, it was an incredible week,” Taylor was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2020. “It was — start to finish. I started my first hole with an eagle. I just felt like I read the greens so well this week and made a lot of crucial putts.”
The pressure of playing with Phil in the final group clearly didn’t shake him.
In the two rounds that were recorded by Shotlink at Pebble Beach, Taylor was second in strokes gained putting (2.94) and sixth in SG tee to green (4.78).
His 19-under score to par was three away from the tournament record and the second lowest since 2007.
Counting the 2019 U.S. Open (T-43rd), Taylor’s made five of seven cuts at Pebble Beach, including T-10th (70-70-68-71) in 2017.
The former Washington Husky also won at the 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship.
The 32 year old has made three of four cuts in 2021 highlighted by T-11th at the Sony Open.
The Sony is another course like Pebble where Taylor thrives. He’s 144th in driving distance (293.5) but 59th in driving accuracy (64.51%).