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Canada's Nick Taylor has secured a Masters debut at Augusta National in April following his four-shot win at the US PGA Tour's Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Pebble Beach Pro-Am winner Nick Taylor says watching countryman Mike Weir become the only Canadian to win the Masters at Augusta National was his inspiration to become a professional golfer.
Now, the unheralded 31-year-old is eyeing his Masters debut having cruised to a US PGA Tour win on California's iconic Monterey Peninsula.
Taylor became the first Canadian player to win wire-to-wire in the US PGA Tour's modern era during a four-shot triumph over Kevin Streelman.
The victory also secures Taylor a second career appearance at the US PGA Championship.
In six years playing the US Tour, Taylor has contested only two major championships as a professional.
"To get that invite for the Masters is not going to sink in for a while," overnight leader Taylor said after shooting two-under 70 to finish at 19 under-par (268).
"That's a tournament that I've dreamt about playing my entire life.
"I've been lucky enough to play three US Opens, a couple were as an amateur, but as a pro only the PGA at Whistling Straights.
"I think it's going to open a lot of doors and I'm excited about that."
Taylor, from British Columbia, said Weir's 2003 Masters win was a highlight of his teenage years playing golf.
"When Tiger (Woods) won (a maiden Masters) in 1997 was right when I was getting into golf," said Taylor.
"But Mike Weir's win, I remember being in my basement with my older brother and my dad watching and standing up probably the entire time.
"I've never been (to Augusta National) so I always hoped that my first time there would be actually competing in the tournament. It's going to be incredible."
Streelman (68) was second while Phil Mickelson (74) was denied a record sixth title at the event and finished third at 14 under.
Australia's Jason Day (75) finished fourth at 11 under, earning his fifth top-five result in the past six editions of the celebrity-laden Pebble Beach.
Sydney native Matt Jones (72) was tied fifth at nine under.
