AUGUSTA, Ga. – They say experience matters more around Augusta National than any other venue in professional golf. Nick Taylor, in his fourth spin around the Georgia peach, has learned plenty – and the results are starting to show.
Taylor opened the 2026 Masters with a 1-under 71 — just two shots back of his career low at Augusta National — and save for a late bogey had a near-flawless start.
Taylor started with a birdie on the par-5 2nd and stayed steady through the opening nine. Taylor missed a short birdie effort on No. 9 but got a sneaky one on the very next hole — nailing a curling, lengthy putt on No. 10.
“That was a nice one. You know going left, it's quicker, breaking a lot left, going up towards that back-right pin it goes a bit left. It was one of those, it looked pretty good the whole way, and for it to drop was pretty nice, especially after having a good opportunity on 9 and missing it,” Taylor said.
“My speed was pretty good all day, so it was nice for that one to drop.”
Taylor had a vicious lip out on No. 17 for his lone bogey of the day, but still came in under par for Thursday. He missed just two fairways and hit 78 percent of his greens in the opener and in the late afternoon, Taylor was inside the top 15 of the leaderboard.
This has been a different kind of start to a PGA Tour season for Taylor, whose son, Charlie, started kindergarten back home in British Columbia, which has meant the family hasn’t travelled as much with him in 2026. In fact, the whole of the Florida swing, Taylor was on the road alone.
That’s why, Taylor said, a week like this — where his two kids were part of the Par-3 Contest along with Corey Conners’ family on Wednesday — is extra special.
“I've been lucky since they were born, they've travelled a lot. It's different now,” Taylor said. “Being able to bring them out for a special event like this, they're going to be able to come (to the RBC Heritage next week). I've loved every tournament they've come to, but it makes it more special when you know it's a more rarity now than it used to be.”
Taylor said Thursday that the way Augusta National was playing — firm and fast
— was his idyllic kind of course conditions. When it’s wet, that hurts Taylor as one of the shorter players on the PGA Tour, but he said he likes seeing the ball chase out and having to be more precise with his irons.
“The course is playing a bit shorter but obviously on the greens it’s very difficult,” Taylor said. “So, I think that gives myself the best chance.”
Taylor, whose best major finish came last year at the U.S. Open when he finished tied for 23rd, is, at this year’s Masters, equal parts comfortable and experienced. And after Thursday’s round, he is in a prime spot to climb the leaderboard.
