2024 Genesis Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at Riviera
10. OWGR: 28th. FedEx Cup: 6th. Nick Taylor. Genesis Inv Power Rank 10
Nick Taylor can still probably go through airports without many people recognizing him, but that could change the way he’s playing lately.
Taylor showed a little bit of flare last week during a beneficial week, walking in putts and confidently stepping after approach shots on his way to a win at the WM Phoenix Open. Don’t look now, but the Canadian has piled up four PGA Tour victories and has cracked the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.
After coming up just shy last year at the WM Phoenix Open where Taylor took second place, this was a redeeming moment. Confidence from playing well that week was parlayed into a win at the 2023 Canadian Open and now in Arizona.
“I think last year was a huge stepping stone in my career to play with Rahm and Scottie in the final group, one, two in the world and really stand my own and gave me a lot of confidence, so to ride that the rest of the year and win my national Open in the fashion that I did was incredible,” Taylor was transcribed by ASAP Sports.
Taylor opened the tournament by tying the course record of 11-under 60. He went 10 shots higher the next day and had work to do to climb back into the lead. He posted 68-65 on the weekend and birdied three of the last four holes to force a playoff after it looked like Charley Hoffman had it in the bag.
Taylor kept his foot on the gas, making birdie on the first sudden-death playoff hole to force a second hole which he won with yet another birdie.
The 35-year-old University of Washington graduate led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (8.94) and scrambling 92.31%). Those are big reasons why he tied for a field-low three bogeys.
Taylor now comes to an event where he’s had moderate success. In seven appearances since debuting in 2015, he’s made five cuts with four finishes of T-33rd or higher. Taylor took T-20th (72-69-71-69) in 2021 and T-33rd (69-74-70-68) last year.
Along with his WM Phoenix Open win, Taylor has one other top-10 in 2024 at the Sony Open in Hawaii (T-7th).