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 is tied for 10th and just four shots back of the lead held by Sam Burns and defending champion Rory McIlroy heading into Friday. Good news for Taylor? In 18 of the last 20 Masters, the eventual champion was ranked among the top 10 on the leaderboard at the end of the first round.
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, after especially 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 per cent of his greens in the opener and for the first time as a professional he was inside the top 10 at a major championship at the end of a round.
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 traveled 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, 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.
Taylor’s fellow Canadians struggled Thursday with Corey Conners shooting a 3-over 75 and Mike Weir coming in with a 9-over 81 — his second-highest opening round at the Masters after a 10-over 82 in 2015.
Conners, who has recorded four top-10 finishes in his last six Masters starts, had one of the shots of the day Thursday — flopping in a slam-dunk birdie from off the green on No. 14 — said he struggled with the driver Thursday and that left him without any good opportunities to score.
Still, with such a singular struggle, he knows he can turn it around with an early tee time on Friday.
“Hopefully the conditions are just a little bit more receptive and can take advantage of some of those holes but going to have to drive it a lot better. From there try to give myself opportunities,” Conners said. “Definitely I certainly don't feel like I'm out of it. Not exactly the start that I wanted, but, you know, I can claw my way back and get in position hopefully for the weekend.”
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