The forgotten man: Vaughn Taylor

Vaughn Taylor A&TT Pebble Beech Pro-Am Champion

If you ever wanted to catch people out at a pub quiz, ask them to recall the four rookies who represented USA at the 2006 Ryder Cup. Zach Johnson will likely gather the most votes. After all, he has carved out a pretty successful career since, as his two major titles would testify. The names of J. J. Henry, Brett Wetterich and Vaughn Taylor, on the other hand, will probably leave most people floundering.

Unlike last year’s Open champion, all three have struggled to reach the same heights from a decade ago, joining the unwanted list of so-called one-hit wonders. That was until Taylor hit the headlines at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week, posting a final-round 65 to secure his first PGA Tour title for 11 years. Not bad considering he was first reserve until Carl Pettersson withdrew.

But where has the 39-year-old been since he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk at the K Club in County Kildare, Ireland nearly 10 years ago?

1. A year after making his Ryder Cup debut, Taylor finished tied 10th at the Masters – just six shots behind winner Zach Johnson coincidently. A month later, Taylor reached a career-high 37th in the World Golf Rankings. His fall from grace saw the American drop to 447th in the list earlier this month – just seven places behind one Tiger Woods.

2. Taylor’s last major appearance came at the 2010 US PGA Championships. The event, which is best-remembered for Martin Kaymer securing his inaugural major title, saw the American miss the cut by two shots alongside Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell.

3. The three-time PGA Tour winner had a “life changing moment” in 2014 when he was out fishing in the Savannah River and his boat capsized. Alone and without a life jacket, Taylor became indebted to his tackle box which guarded against the fast-moving current. He was eventually guided to shore by a local ranger. The moral to the story: always opt for golf over fishing!

4. The 39-year-old had been without a Tour card since 2012 and his recent appearance at the Web.com Tour event in Bogota, Colombia was cut short by a stomach virus which left him needing an IV drip.

5. Taylor’s triumph at Pebble Beach – his first win since the Reno-Tahoe Open in August 2005 – saw him collect a $1.26 million pay packet and a two-year Tour exemption. To think he flew to California straight from Colombia because the flight was cheaper than returning home to Georgia first. He even carried a smaller golf bag to avoid excess baggage fees!