Taylor rallies for first PGA Tour win

Nick Taylor fired eight birdies in a six-under par 66 on Sunday to capture his first US PGA Tour title, winning by two strokes at the Country Club of Jackson.

"It's pretty surreal," Taylor said

JACKSON, 9 Nov 2014 (AFP) - The Canadian's 16-under par total of 272 gave him a two-shot victory over Americans Boo Weekley and Jason Bohn. Weekley also closed with a 66 while Bohn closed out the $4 million Sanderson Farms Championship with a 69 for 274.

"It's pretty surreal," Taylor said of erasing a four-stroke overnight deficit to capture his first tour title. "I'm certainly happy about it."

John Rollins, who started the day with a two-shot lead, settled for a one-over par 73 to head a group on 275 alongside Justin Thomas, who posted a 67, and Peter Uihlein, who rocketed up the leaderboard with a seven-under 65.

Taylor was dialed-in off the tee and closed the gap to the leaders with a four-under front nine.

After hitting only 21 of 42 fairways in regulation through the first three rounds, Taylor hit 10 of 14 on Sunday -- and needed just one putt at 10 holes.

"Today I putted unbelievable and the first two days I did, too," Taylor said.

"I felt very comfortable today. Obviously the last few holes I had some nerves."

Taylor's eight birdies included three in a row from the 13th through the 15th -- where his precise tee shot left him 86 yards to the pin.

The Web.com Tour graduate hit a wedge to 11 feet and curled in the birdie putt.

He made a long par putt at 16 and led by three with two holes to play, so that even a bogey at the last wouldn't allow his closest followers to catch him.

Leading scores after Sunday's final round of the US PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship (USA unless noted, par-72):

272 - Nick Taylor (CAN) 67-69-70-66

274 - Boo Weekley 70-68-70-66, Jason Bohn 68-71-66-69

275 - Peter Uihlein 70-71-69-65, Justin Thomas 71-68-69-67, John Rollins 68-66-68-73

276 - William McGirt 68-70-66-72

277 - Robert Streb 67-70-70-70

278 - Blayne Barber 71-71-70-66, Garrett Osborn 70-69-71-68, Carlos Sainz 70-70-69-69, Mark Wilson 71-69-68-70, David Toms 68-66-72-72

279 - David Hearn (CAN) 69-72-71-67, Cory Whitsett 72-69-70-68, Charles Howell 71-69-70-69, Will Wilcox 69-71-68-71, Fabian Gomez (ARG) 71-68-69-71, Kyle Reifers 71-70-67-71