RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 11, 2023

Nick Taylor

Oakdale Golf & Country Club

Trophy Presentation Ceremony

THE MODERATOR: Well, how about that? Oakdale, you've done a magnificent job here and a greater one here by our champion. In just a moment you're going to see it.

But I want to thank everybody for coming out, for showing support for what is not only a historic day in Canadian golf, this is a historic day in Canadian sports.

(Applause.)

THE MODERATOR: To begin our ceremonies, I would like to call on John Rothschild, the president of Oakdale Golf and Country Club, to do the land acknowledgment.

JOHN ROTHSCHILD: Oakdale Golf and Country Club sits on the traditional territories of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, the Winde nay konzo (phonetic), and the Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Toronto is covered by the Toronto Purchase Treaty, Treaty 13 and Williams Treaty of 1923. Golf Canada acknowledges and respects the indigenous peoples of Canada that have, for hundreds of generations, been the keepers of territories where we all live, work, and play. Thank you.

(Applause.)

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, John. I would now like to call up the CEO -- or sorry, the president of Golf Canada, Mr. David McCarthy.

DAVID McCARTHY: (Speaking French) What an incredible finish to celebrate the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

(Applause.)

This week has been so special with our friends at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club and the 2,000 volunteers that leaned into the 112th playing of our national championship.

Thank you, Oakdale. Thank you, volunteers.

(Applause.)

To superintendent Patrick Greenman and the incredible grounds team, your work has been exceptional. Thank you.

Golf Canada is so proud of our incredible partnership with RBC and the PGA TOUR and thank them for their collaboration with this historic championship. That impact extends to our charitable beneficiary, the First Tee Canada.

The First Tee Canada is bringing transformative experiences through golf to Canadian youth. It has been such an honor to host the world's best players and thank you to everyone for making this year's championship so memorable. Thank you.

(Applause.)

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, David.

Now normally at this point we announce the winner of the Rivermead Cup. For those of you who don't know what that is, it goes to the low Canadian.

However, I have no authority to do this, but after what we saw today, I think we should retire this trophy, don't you?

Okay. I'm going to now call on the CEO and president of RBC. I don't know where we would be in this country without -- in golf, without RBC, Dave McKay.

DAVE McKAY: Thank you, Bob. I can't tell you how proud we are at RBC, and on behalf of our 90,000 employees around the world, we are so proud to host this incredible tournament. We've been waiting for this moment for a long time.

But first, thank you so much to the members and to Oakdale for hosting this facility. There's lots of sacrifices you have to make to host the Canadian Open over a week. So thank you to the Oakdale members and community. Thank you to the volunteers. And thank you to you, as fans who have supported this incredible event, this Canadian event, one that's 112 years of history, we couldn't be prouder.

So, David, could we please join me so we can do the honors.

Are you ready for this? Are you ready? 68, 69 years we've been waiting for this. I would like to present the 2023 Canadian Open trophy to Nick Taylor.

(Applause.)

THE MODERATOR: All right. Nick, what Dave forgot was, you know, all those years, but also another 72 holes plus four playoff holes we had to go to get this winner.

What does it mean for you to be holding this trophy right now?

NICK TAYLOR: It means everything. Thank you. I can't hold this without thinking of Mike Weir. He's been such an inspiration to every single one of us out here.

We know how close he was 15, 20 years ago and this is for every Canadian golfer in history. This is an incredible feeling.

THE MODERATOR: Just over here a few moments ago you rolled in a putt that I think will go down in history as perhaps the greatest putt in Canadian golf. Tell us about that putt, what was going through your mind as you stood over it.

NICK TAYLOR: It was all speed. I had a similar line in the second playoff hole, I think. So I knew what it was doing the last 15 feet or so. There's obviously a lot of luck involved in that, but trying to get the best speed as I possibly can. With 10 feet out, it looked like it was pretty good to get at least close, and to drop is just -- I'm excited to see my reaction with my caddie, Dave, because we went ballistic.

THE MODERATOR: On Thursday you shot 75. People don't realize that, I think, or may have forgotten that. You told me after that that you got on the phone and your wife, Andie, gave you a talking to. Now it's your turn to talk to Andie right now. I'm sure she's listening at home with your children, Charlie and Harper, who is only a few months old. What would you tell your family in this moment right now?

NICK TAYLOR: That she's right, obviously, that I love them very much, and this is for them. This is for my whole family. My brother is here. I have family that came here that live here. This has always been a team effort, this sport. We definitely take a lot of the credit, but my caddie, Dave Markle, incredible, all my coaches, my team, everyone here, this is for everybody.

THE MODERATOR: All right, everybody, Nick Taylor, the champion. One more round of applause.

(Applause.)

Nick, we'll see you one year from now at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club where you will be defending your title. We hope to see you all there.

Thank you for being here, everyone.