Golf

2024 PGA Tour: Taylor Pendrith Comes in Clutch to Secure First PGA Win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

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May 06, 2024 / 3511 Views

Evan Walker

There was plenty riding on Taylor Pendrith’s clutch putt on the 18th green of TPC Craig Ranch. Converting it for birdie in the closing moments of Sunday, May 5, would have meant the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson would be his. Pendrith pulled it off to great effect.

As an athlete, the 32-year-old Canadian could count upon mental fortitude but hadn’t worked towards making it a pillar of strength. That was, however, until recently. As fate would have it, a few weeks with a mental coach proved of value in securing Pendrith’s maiden PGA victory.

Pendrith’s key takeaways from his sessions reminded him of the importance of taking his time as well as deep breaths. Both were instrumental while he lined up that all-important putt on the 18th. But, Pendrith admitted that it had been difficult to prevent the mind from racing to the takeaways from a win.

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Following his breakthrough on the PGA Tour, Pendrith received 500 FedExCup points that catapulted him up 57 spots to 34th place in the rankings. He also received a USD 1.7 million prize purse and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, lasting until the end of the 2026 season.

Also of critical importance is a possible spot on the International Team when the 2024 Presidents Cup comes calling to his country, as well as the Royal Montreal Golf Club in late September.

Wading through tough times

Pendrith also had demons from the past to cope with. Surrendering a 54-hole lead not long ago, Pendrith’s fortunes had also fluctuated on the roller-coaster Sunday. Floundering on that putt would have forced a playoff with another hopeful for the win, Ben Kohles.

Add onto that the golfer’s battle with his injured left shoulder, which forced him to cut down on club speed. Pendrith’s strength with the driver is a calculated element of his play and losing that potency off the tee was a concern up until a few weeks ago.

Given the long road to recovery, surgery was not an option. Pendrith shared that trying out non-invasive methods helped. The shoulder responded to treatment, and the weeks leading to Pendrith’s triumph on Sunday show up on the chart with back-to-back T11 placements at the Corales Puntacana Championship and Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

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As he stood over that critical putt on the 18th, coping with the flow of his thoughts, Pendrith succeeded in allowing the work with his mental coach to take precedence. What followed was his one-shot win over Kohles, an event that would change his life.

Standing by the 18th green with their son, Hayes, Pendrith’s wife Meg had some thoughts of her own. Her husband hadn’t won in his previous 73 starts on Tour, while it was no indication of his ability to triumph, the couple had planned a vacation for after the close of the event.

Like Pendrith’s post-Sunday schedule, the family vacation stands altered. Instead of the beach destination that they had hoped to visit, the Pendriths will be heading to the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the PGA Tour’s next Signature event, the Wells Fargo Championship.

Figuring out a place to stay in such a short span won’t be easy, but the couple is up for the “wonderful problem”.

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As the first Canadian winner of this USD 9.5 million event, Pendrith has certainly forged his place in History. However, the mind, perhaps still coming to terms with the pressure putt on the 18th and the aftermath, will take time to register the changes. Describing the surreal experience as a ‘blur’, Pendrith said, “You know, it feels unbelievable, and to see some of those names on this trophy, it’s crazy. I still can’t believe that I’m a winner of this tournament.”

But he was clear on one thing: that irrespective of the outcome on Sunday, acceptance wouldn’t have been a problem. Pendrith’s work with his mental coach Adrian had covered the subject, and he acknowledged that his efforts had not been in vain.

“The last few months, my mental Game hasn’t been great,” Pendrith shared. His physical limitations certainly contributed to the roadblocks he had faced. “My shoulder hasn’t been great and I’ve been working with Adrian on acceptance… Everybody wants that opportunity to have a putt win a PGA Tour event. I was nervous for sure.”

“My caddie said ‘this is the straightest putt you’ve had all year. Just knock it in’. It was a mix of emotions, but I’m very happy that it did go in,” said the champion, on finishing at 23-under 261 for his lowest tournament total on the PGA Tour.

Learning experience

Whether in life or sport, learning never stops, and Ben Kohles, who has played the professional circuits since 2012, isn’t ashamed to admit that he has ground to cover on this front.

The Puerto Rico Open in March could have changed the life and career of the 34-year-old as he sought out his first win, but his T6 finish did leave him with a lot of lessons. These lessons held him in good stead for almost the entire week, until his third shot on Sunday’s 18th hole. Kohles checked his shot, and the resultant bogey ended his challenge.

CJ cup byron nelson — (Image: Ben Kohles/Instagram)

Like Pendrith, Kohles believes in the virtues of acceptance. “It stings. You feel like you had it right there and let it slip away. But I definitely learned a ton from Puerto Rico.” Acknowledging the distance he has come, Kohles added that he felt nights and days away from that Sunday.

“I did so many good things this week, and I’m going to keep reminding myself of that and try to get back in this position,” Kohles said on his best finish with a career low of 22-under 262, which gained him a spot at next week’s USD 20 million Wells Fargo Championship.

There was one more reason for satisfaction. With the top leaderboard packed with international players, Kohles was the lone American among the seven names which garnered a tournament total of 20-under or lower.

New kid on the block

On Friday, Kris Kim became the youngest to make cut in a PGA Tour event. At 16 years, 7 months and 3 days of age, Kim achieved what had not been achieved in almost a decade. On Sunday, he added one more milestone by playing the final round as the youngest since China’s Guan Tianlang in 2014.

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Finishing 65th at 6-under provided an adrenaline rush that left the English amateur yearning for more. The notes have been made, and while Kim attained the objective of making cut, the weekend rounds need further attention for improvement.

“The next time I play a PGA Tour event, I think I can definitely keep making the cut, but I’d like to push on in the weekend,” said Kim.

Competing with hardened pros over 72 holes broadened Kim’s perspective. The young golfer shared that the fatigue he experienced during rounds had made him aware that he needed to eat better on course and train better off it.

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Flooded with suggestions and applause, Kim shared that he intended to take some time off and return to school. Like an earnest teenager, he plans to catch up with friends; furthermore, the thrill of receiving his first driving license is also on the agenda.

Milestone man

At 48 in a career of 26 years, Zach Johnson is far from a spent force. Johnson has long been a name to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour, having garnered 12 victories, including being a two-time Major winner.

Time may have taken a toll on the body, but with a track record as rich as his, Johnson’s desire to compete is as sharp as when he won the Masters in 2007 and the Open Championship eight years later.

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The CJ Cup Byron Nelson was a celebration of his 500th start on the PGA Tour, and contending through the week and finishing T20 was a big add-on. Under-par on all days, Johnson believes his “best golf is still coming”.

Thankful for the platter of recognition from the PGA Tour, Johnson’s reflection took a nostalgic turn. “There is no chance I would’ve expected or dreamt of it, but, it’s a great time to reflect…You go to the people, instructors, coaches, physios, individuals that frankly pushed you, encouraged you, but also made you really uncomfortable, because it’s hard,” He said. “It’s really hard to compete out here that long. I don’t think it’s getting any easier. It’s hard to measure your game in eras, decades, for that matter. At the same time, I’m still hungry.”

The driving force behind Johnson’s tenacity is clear. Johnson’s love of the game prevails, serving as fuel to keep him teeing off every week against players half his age, with the belief that he can win again.

(Main and featured image: Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Who won the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson?

Making his 74th start on the PGA Tour, Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith broke through at TPC Craig Ranch for his first win on the PGA Tour with a tournament total of 23-under 261, for a one-shot win over Ben Kohles.

– What did Taylor Pendrith gain post the win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson?

32-year-old Taylor Pendrith from Richmond Hill, Canada, won a purse of USD 1.7 million out of the total purse of USD 9.5 million on offer. Along with it, Pendrith also gained 500 FedExCup points, a climb on the FedExCup rankings, and exemption on the PGA Tour till the end of 2026. Other prominent benefits listed are a spot at the PGA Championship and the remaining Signature Events this year, entry to the Sentry, Players Championship and the 2025 Masters Tournament.

Pendrith also made of History by becoming the first Canadian to win this event.

– What was special about Kris Kim’s week at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson?

At just 16, the English amateur became the youngest to make cut in a PGA Tour event in almost a decade, and by playing the final round on Sunday, also registered himself as the youngest to do so since 2014.