In the News

[Jeffrey Reed]

Former World Number #1 Ranked Amateur Nick Taylor
Granted Sponsor's Exemptions into Six Canadian Tour Events



OAKVILLE, Ontario (May 10, 2011) - Former world number #1 ranked Amateur and 2007 Canadian Amateur Champion Nick Taylor has been granted six sponsor exemptions to play in Canadian Tour events this summer. Taylor will begin his Canadian Tour schedule at the Times Colonist Open followed by stops at the Tour's Western Championship, the Syncrude Boreal Open, the ATB Financial Classic, the Dakota Dunes Open and finally The Player's Cup in Winnipeg.


The Times Colonist Open will be only the second Canadian Tour start for the Abbotsford, British Columbia native. Taylor made his Canadian Tour debut last season at the Desert Dunes Classic after turning professional in October. The three-time All-American finished T21 in his first Canadian Tour start.



"The Canadian Tour has been the proving ground for so many of the PGA TOUR's top players and I'm excited to continue my journey to the PGA TOUR on the Canadian Tour," said Nick Taylor. "It's going to be special to start the season in British Columbia, my home province, and specifically the Times Colonist Open which is considered one of the best tournaments on the Canadian Tour," added Taylor.

Taylor is gearing up for what looks to be a breakthrough season for the young professional. On top of his Canadian Tour exemptions Taylor has also been granted an exemption to play in the PGA TOUR's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial May 19-22. Taylor's exemption at Colonial came on the heels of his 2010 Ben Hogan Award, which is handed out to the NCAA male collegiate golfer of the year.



"We are thrilled to be a stepping stone for yet another young Canadian Professional as Nick tries to reach his goal of playing on the PGA TOUR," said Canadian Tour Commissioner and CEO Rick Janes. "Nick's amateur career will go down as one of the best by a Canadian and we're hopeful he can reproduce some of his amateur heroics as a professional on the Canadian Tour," added Janes.



Taylor joins a number of up-and-coming Canadian professionals and British Columbian's, including Adam Hadwin and Roger Sloan, who will test their skills on the Canadian Tour this summer.



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About the Canadian Tour



Since its inception as the Peter Jackson Tour in 1971, the Canadian Tour has evolved into a high-caliber, coast-to-coast training ground for professionals on their way to the PGA TOUR, including Steve Stricker, Tim Clark, Mike Weir, and recent AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am winner D.A. Points. Its alumni includes not only the game's Canadian legends, but also many of its most prominent international names, who collectively have won more than 100 PGA TOUR titles and and close to $400 million in prize money.