Nick Taylor is developing a reputation as one of the PGA Tour鈥檚 most clutch players, and he鈥檚 loving it.

Taylor drained an 11-foot putt for birdie on the second playoff hole of the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday to beat American Charley Hoffman for his second victory in nine months.

The fourth win of Taylor鈥檚 PGA Tour career mirrored his historic victory at the RBC Canadian Open last June, when he sank a 72-foot eagle putt in the fourth round of a playoff against England鈥檚 Tommy Fleetwood.

鈥淵ou always relish being in those positions, but being able to pull off shots, now I can draw on that a lot,鈥� Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., said of his growing confidence. 鈥淚 want to be in those positions more and more.

鈥淢y game has followed that, so hopefully I鈥檓 in those positions more and when I get in that kind of spotlight I鈥檓 comfortable. The hard part now is getting there as much as I can.鈥�

He鈥檒l have another chance at being in the spotlight at this week鈥檚 Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The 35-year-old Taylor said that he鈥檚 worked to solidify his game over the past two years.

鈥淩eally, since the fall of 鈥�22 we had a road map of where we wanted to get to, and since then it hasn鈥檛 really been changes, it鈥檚 been sticking to the same things that we know will get me to where I want to be,鈥� said Taylor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been the deliberate practice of doing the same boring stuff, which sounds easy at times but sometimes you can wander away.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why my team will reel me in if I try to do something different because they know what we鈥檝e been doing has been working, so just sticking to the basic stuff.鈥�

One thing that hasn鈥檛 changed for Taylor is his ability to clear his mind and perform under pressure.

Taylor won the Canadian Junior in 2006 and the Canadian Amateur Championship in 2007 as an amateur and then also won on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2014 and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2020.

He said that more than a decade of playing in high-leverage situations has forged him into a clutch performer.

鈥淵ou work on mindset, you work on breathing at times, but I think dating back to even junior golf when I鈥檝e been in those positions, I want to be in that position,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 feel more locked in, whatever it is. I鈥檝e been able to pull off shots in those scenarios and I think maybe I鈥檝e been doing it long enough where I have confidence that I can pull it off and I don鈥檛 have the sidetracking thoughts or negative thoughts in there.鈥�

Taylor will be joined this week by Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C.

The win rocketed Taylor up the FedEx Cup standings to sixth overall, putting him into an excellent position to represent the International Team at this year鈥檚 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 on the top of the list along with the Olympics,鈥� said Taylor, who wants to play for International captain Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., at the Presidents Cup. 鈥淭here are things on my goal list, but I also just try to focus on my golf and if I play well I feel like it鈥檚 going to take care of itself.

鈥淭his is obviously a good start, but it鈥檚 a long ways away. If I keep playing good golf, I think it will take care of itself.鈥�

TEAM CANADA

Golf Canada announced the names of 19 professional players that will be part of its 2024 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 squads on Monday.

Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., were named to the women鈥檚 team.

A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., Calgary鈥檚 Brendan MacDougall, Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., 脡tienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Hamilton鈥檚 Johnny Travale, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., Victoria鈥檚 Jeevan Sihota, Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., Matthew Anderson of Missssauga, Ont., Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta., Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., Noah Steele of Kingston, Ont., Vancouver鈥檚 Stuart Macdonald, Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, and Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, Ont., were named to the men鈥檚 group.

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