Nick Taylor -- Preparing To Open Some Eyes

Taylor, who will continue to play as an amateur until at least after the CN Canadian Open in Toronto a month from now, earned this PGA TOUR special exemption as the run-away winner of the Ben Hogan Award as the top collegiate golfer in the U.S.

Joining Taylor in this week's Travelers Championship will be Oshawa, Ont. native Derek Gillespie, who shot a four-under par 68 in Monday qualifying and then had to go on to win a sudden-death, four-way playoff with a birdie on the second extra hole just to get into this event. Also teeing it up will be rookie Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask.

Taylor spent time this week preparing for this tournament by working with his Canadian golf coach, Rob Houlding.

"We spent some time working on his putting and preparing mentally for the difference between college competition and the pros he'll be facing," says Houlding. "Nick also played a round of golf out at Ledgeview GC with James Lepp (2005 NCAA medalist) and turned in a round of 10-under par, which didn't hurt his confidence."

"Nick is big and strong, mentally and physically. His performance in last year's U.S. Open at Bethpage Black -he was low amateur--proved he can handle a PGA TOUR course. Now he needs more tournament experience and when that comes I think he'll open some eyes."