Another Canadian becomes a PGA Tour winner as Pendrith gets 1st career title in Texas

On Saturday, Taylor Pendrith watched his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs get eliminated from the NHL playoffs in a heartbreaking game seven overtime loss to the Boston Bruins.

Twenty-four hours later, he was soaking in the sweet taste of victory after a thrilling first-career PGA Tour win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas.

“It's been something that I've been working towards my whole career,” he said, “and to finally get it done feels unbelievable.”

O Canada 🇨🇦@TaylorPendrith breaks through for his first TOUR victory @CJByronNelson! pic.twitter.com/UOTN5l2Zmj

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2024

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native was in a battle with Ben Kohles and others all day long at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, northeast of Dallas, and entered the final hole trailing Kohles by one.

The 18th is a short par five that no player had bogeyed on Sunday, but that changed at the most dramatic time to secure Pendrith his first-career PGA title.

Pendrith reached the green in two, although he was a good distance from the hole, while Kohles missed the green to the right.

Winning is hard.

Ben Kohles went on to make bogey on the 72nd hole to miss a potential playoff by one shot. He was the only player to bogey the 18th today. pic.twitter.com/JYx69sMP0U

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2024

Kohles, a 34-year-old from Dallas, needed to get up and down to likely win, and at least needed to save par to force a playoff, but instead hit a poor chip that stayed in the greenside rough.

He now needed an up and down, and after chipping to around five feet he missed his putt to the left and saw his dreams of a PGA Tour win slip through his fingertips.

While it was heartbreak for him, Pendrith took advantage with a lengthy two-putt for birdie that saw the two change spots on the leaderboard and the Canadian take home the victory.

Winning with family ❤️

A moment @TaylorPendrith will never forget. pic.twitter.com/1SPC6Stn3T

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2024

“I've never had a putt to win a PGA Tour event, so my caddie said this is the straightest putt we've had all year and just knock it in,” explained Pendrith. “It managed to slip in the left. I'm pretty happy.”

The 32-year-old is the 18th Canadian to win on the PGA Tour and the second this year, following Nick Taylor’s victory at the WM Phoenix Open in February.

Over the past seven years, six Canadians have emerged from PGA Tour events with wins.

"You were there for my first, I had to be there for yours."

A wholesome moment between longtime friends @TaylorPendrith and @MacHughesGolf ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8BstzTMJ3Z

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 6, 2024

Pendrith is now part of that club that also includes Corey Conners, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson.

The win changes a lot for Pendrith, who earned $1.7-million USD for his efforts and will now play in next week’s signature event at Quail Hollow, as well as the PGA Championship in two weeks.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of Getty Images.}