The time has finally come for Nick Taylor.
The five-time PGA Tour winner was named to the International Team for the first time in his career ahead of this month’s Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club.
The Abbotsford, B.C. product finished the 2026 season in 13th place on the International Team standings but was selected as one of six captains picks by Geoff Ogilvy for the biennial competition on Tuesday.
“It’s a huge honour,” Taylor said of making the 12-man team in an appearance on TSN1050’s OverDrive Wednesday. “It’s definitely something every two years that’s on the top of the goals list. I’ve heard so much from the guys on the team, players that have played in the past about how special it is of a week, getting to be so close to the players, the captains, the spouses.
“It just sounds like a really special week, so to now be able to be a part of it, I’m really looking forward to it. I found out probably 10 days ago or so, so I’ve had some time to kind of soak it in. Aside from my inner circle and team, no one else really knew, so it was kind of an interesting secret to keep.
Taylor won’t be the only Canadian donning the International colours at Medinah as Corey Conners gets set to make his third straight appearance at the event.
Conners, of Listowel, Ont., was also selected as one of Ogilvy’s captains picks after finishing seventh in the standings, just one spot shy of earning automatic qualification.
Both Taylor and Conners represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with Conners finishing T9 and Taylor in a tie for 30th.
Richmond Hill, Ont.’s Taylor Pendrith will also be on the grounds at Medinah serving as an assistant captain on Ogilvy’s staff.
“I’m really excited,” Taylor said of teaming up with Conners. “He’s someone I’m going to lean on with his experience; it’ll be his third Presidents Cup. We’ve gotten close over the years. I couldn’t respect Corey more – his golf game and who he is as a person. I’m excited to be in the team room with him along with the 10 other guys.”
Taylor was left off the International side by captain and compatriot Mike Weir for the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal despite three Canadians – Conners, Pendrith, and Mackenzie Hughes - being named to the team.
The United States would go onto win the event 18 ½ to 11 ½ for their 10th consecutive victory and 13th overall at the event.
The States once again boast an impressive roster at Medinah and will have eight of the top 11 players in the world on Brandt Snedeker’s squad.
Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, and Russell Henley will all return to the team after their triumph at Royal Montreal.
“It’s definitely a tall task,” Taylor said of facing the juggernaut American side. “I think our team has the belief and that’s probably the start of it. Getting prepared as much as possible, seeing the golf course, sticking to our process and our plans the week of.
“But I think the biggest immeasurable stat, if you want to call it, is going to be our camaraderie, how close we’re going to get. We’re going to lean in on that and use that to our advantage as much as possible.
“Geoff is going to have us ready to go and I’m just really excited for the opportunity to get close to these guys and to lean on each other. I’m certainly going to lean on a lot of guys that have been on these teams before. From there, it’s just trying to play golf and make putts at the right time.”
While Taylor may be a Presidents Cup rookie heading into Medinah, he is no stranger to pressure-packed moments in competition on the golf course.
Of his five wins on Tour, the three most recent victories have all come by sudden-death playoff.
His 72-foot putt for eagle at the fourth playoff hole at the RBC Canadian Open remains the defining moment of his career to this point, but Taylor has since shown his mettle at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open and the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii to hold a 3-0 record in PGA Tour playoffs.
“In the past, if it’s either been a playoff or trying to win a golf tournament, I think I’ve been able to rise to the occasion and make putts when I’ve needed to,” Taylor said. “That’s something I can lean on, and I think with the experience, or lack thereof on my side playing in these team events, that’s stuff I’ll lean on, but I’m just excited for the challenge.
“It’s definitely an uphill battle but for me personally, I think I’ve been in some big moments and can lean on those and hopefully do similar things.”
