Taylor, 35, won in spectacular style, delivering on a 72-foot putt on the 18th hole of a playoff round.
Here are some things to know about the Pride of Abbotsford:
How things started for Taylor
Taylor was born on April 14, 1988, in Winnipeg but moved with his family to Abbotsford, where he began playing at the Ledgeview Golf Club. In 2006, he won the B.C. Junior Boys Championship in Cranbrook. He has also played at the Sandpiper Golf Course in Harrison Mills, the Chilliwack Golf Club and the Cultus Lake Golf Club.
Taylor had success as an amateur before turning professional in 2010. Before Sunday, he had two PGA Tour wins.
Taylor is starting to make some serious money
After Taylor started as a professional golfer, he had a couple of low income years before cracking US$1 million in earnings in 2015.
A total of 13 cuts made has Taylor up to US$5.67 million in winnings near the midway point of this season, more than doubling his income from the 2019-2020 season, which was his most lucrative season until now.
In total (not including the Canadian Open purse), he has earned US$14.32 million a professional.
Taylor is a family man
Taylor is married to Andie and they have a young son, Charlie, and a second child, born last month. During the COVID-19 years of 2020 and 2021, Taylor moved his young family from Scottsdale, Ariz., back to Abbotsford so they could be with extended family while he toured alone. He is now back touring with his family. Andie is also from Abbotsford.
Taylor recently told Postmedia that since having a family he’s been forced to become more economical with his practice time, which he said might have been a blessing in disguise.
“I’ve been very diligent in working on the same things and not just searching when I get to the range,” he said at the time.
On Saturday, Taylor set a Oakfield Golf and Countrty Club course record with a nine-under 63 to surge into contention and at the end of that day was eighth at 11-under overall. He credited his wife with inspiring him after a weak start to the tournament.
“My wife gave me a kick in the butt, I was just too negative out there,” Taylor said at the time. “We try to have fun out there but sometimes we can take it a little too seriously at times. … I’m sure a better attitude helped everything.”
Taylor has had a great year
Until this year, Taylor hadn’t played in the PGA Championship for three years and only appeared in one major: the 2022 U.S. Open.
He has had a great 2023. He most recently finished second with partner Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on April 23.
Other highlights from this season include tying for sixth at the Fortinet Championship on Sept. 18, a tie for seventh at the Sony Open in Hawaii on Jan. 15, a runner-up finish at the WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 12, and a tie for 10th at the Valspar Championship on March 19.
Taylor was not alone
Taylor was one of eight Canadians that made the cut for this year’s men’s national championship — the most since 2002.
In the race right up until Sunday morning was Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont.
The other Canadian players were Taylor Pendrith, of Ontario, Roger Slocan of Merritt, Wil Bateman of Edmonton, Mike Weir from Ontario and Taylor’s closest Canadian golf buddy, Hadwin.
CBS golf announcer Jim Nantz said Hadwin was tackled by security when he rushed to congratulate Taylor immediately after Sunday’s breathtaking win.
“Yeah, I got tackled,” Hadwin told Postmedia afterwards. “He thought I was coming in hot,” Hadwin said. “I was trying to get Nick with Champagne. I hope I got him with a little before I got tackled.”