CNN –
Chaos ensued when Nick Taylor’s curvaceous 72-foot Eagle putt fell into the cup.
With the longest putt of his PGA Tour career on the fourth hole of a thrilling playoff, the 35-year-old had just ended the 69-year wait for a Canadian golfer to win the Canadian Open in the most amazing way imaginable can.
The celebrations matched Sunday. As the crowd erupted at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club, their local hero had just enough time to raise his fist in victory before being hugged by caddy Dave Markle.
Champagne rained down on the couple from above, enthusiastically sprayed by fellow pro and compatriot Adam Hadwin. Then it stopped abruptly.
A security guard, apparently mistaking Hadwin for an intruding member of the gallery, bypassed Taylor to take down the bottle-wielding golfer, driving him to the bottom of the 18th green with a linebacker-like tackle.
Onlookers, including Markle, rushed in to clear up the case of the mix-up. Hadwin was quickly helped to his feet filming shows him standing arm in arm with the security guard shortly afterwards.
Tournament Director Bryan Crawford told CNN that the security guard “didn’t immediately recognize” Hadwin and other Canadian players who rushed to the green to celebrate with Taylor.
“The security officer did his job and acted at the right moment amid a flurry of excitement and cheers on the green after one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sport,” Taylor said.
“We are pleased with how both parties quickly cleared up the misunderstanding and embraced the moment.”
Nathan Denette/AP
A security guard stops Hadwin while Taylor celebrates.
Clearly seeing the funny side, Hadwin changed both his profile and cover photo on Twitter to a closeup of the tackle. An other picture Posted by Hadwin captioned “Put in the Louvre!” He captured Taylor and Markle turning around just as world number 75 was pulled down.
“Out of the corner of my eye I saw he had a nice tackle there,” Taylor told reporters.
“I hope he’s fine. He was upright when I saw him later, so I hope he doesn’t wake up with broken ribs or anything tomorrow morning.”
Confirmation of Hadwin’s sound health – and an apology – later followed from his wife Jessica via Twitter.
“I’m pleased to report that @ahadwingolf is still in the land of the living and in true Canadian form has apologized to the security guard for being attacked,” she said.
Footage of the tackle quickly went viral on social media, including a slow-motion close-up footage of the Canadian Open official account – Hadwin’s colleagues rejoiced at his misfortune.
“Hahahahaha man down!!!!!!” called two-time major champion Justin Thomas, while English golfer Tyrrell Hatton added: “Praying for Adam Hadwin, what an attack.”
Nathan Denette/AP
Taylor’s incredible winning putt caused jubilant scenes.
The incident added even more spectacle to a day that was already filled with drama and one that Taylor will long remember.
To end a three-year wait for his third PGA Tour victory, the Winnipeg-born golfer was sung to throughout the week by the Canadian crowd, who sang the national anthem once during his final round.
It underscored a brilliant Sunday performance from Taylor, who – after starting his tournament with 3-over-par shots – finished with a round of six and finished with 17-under. That put him at the top of the rankings with Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and he was aiming for his first PGA Tour title.
This made the pair reach their first career PGA Tour playoffs, and they still couldn’t be separated after three holes. After both birdie on the first repetition of the par 18th hole, the duo parried the same hole one more time before repeating the feat on the par 3 ninth hole.
The fourth playoff hole marked the return to the 18th tee. Although Taylor hit the green in two, a superb fairway approach from Fleetwood gave the Englishman a birdie opportunity from 12 feet.
But that would be Fleetwood’s last attempt of the tournament. With a remarkable uphill putt, Taylor secured the win, becoming the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher in 1954 and the sixth in history to win his country’s National Open.
Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
Taylor poses with the trophy.
Compatriots Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Hadwin were among those who stormed onto the 18th green to congratulate Taylor, whose win netted him $1.62 million in prize money and moved him up 15 places to 44th place improved the world rankings.
“I heard someone out there yelling, ‘everything,’ and I don’t know any other word to use for it,” Taylor said.
“I think it’s a tournament that we’ve probably had on our calendar since junior golf. Ever since I’ve been on the PGA Tour we’ve wanted to make it the best it can be and the crowd support has probably been the most incredible thing I’ll ever experience in my life.
“To break this curse – if you want to call it that – I’m pretty speechless. I don’t think it will take a long time to understand what happened today.”
And before commenting on his own 18th green moment, Hadwin first sent his congratulations to Taylor.
“Words cannot describe the magnitude of what you have just achieved. “So proud of you,” he said tweeted.