Nick Taylor Player Profile And What's In The Bag

Article Updated - February 2024

Nick Taylor produced a finish for the ages to set up a playoff victory over 47-year-old Charley Hoffman at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in front of massive crowds at TPC Scottsdale.

He said: “I didn't have it early on today and made some ridiculous par saves. I came close here last year and I felt more comfortable this time. It was great to find my swing on the closing holes and make some birdies. I have my family here with me and to do it in front them is just so special."

Hoffman finished with a 64 for a 72-hole total of 263, 21 under par, and looked to have the tournament in his pocket as Taylor trailed by two strokes with three holes to play. 

But Taylor, who began the tournament with a 60, birdied the par-five 15th after a wedge to three feet. He then brought the house down in front of the 20,000 spectators who surround the par-three 16th when he hit a superb tee shot and holed the putt for a birdie. The 17th is a reachable par four but Taylor was unable to take advantage of it. 

• Player Profile
• Last 10 Events
• Key Stats
• World Ranking
• What's In The Bag

It meant that he had to birdie the last to force a playoff. He missed the fairway with his drive but hit a glorious approach. He was left with a downhill putt of around 10 feet and pumped his fist at the ball disappeared.

At the first playoff hole both men found the fairway. Taylor struck his approach to around 14 feet, while Hoffman was left with half that distance. Taylor holed his putt for another birdie and Hoffman followed him in to drive the crowd wild.

So back to the tee they went. This time Hoffman drove into a bunker on the right. Taylor also found sand but got a lucky break when his ball bounced through the bunker. Advantage to the Canadian. And when Taylor birdied it again he was champion. 

Player Profile

Taylor was born in Winnipeg on April 14, 1988 and started playing golf at the age of 10. 

In 2007, at the age of 19, Taylor won the Canadian Amateur Championship at the Riverside Country Club. The same year he reached the last eight of the US Amateur, losing to eventual winner Colt Knost. He played for Canada at the Eisenhower Trophy in 20008.

He twice qualified for the US Open as an amateur, in 2008 and 2009, making the cut at Bethpage in 2009, where he shot a 65 in the second round before finishing 35th. He was the world’s top-ranked amateur before turning professional in 2010.

He played on the PGA Tour Canada from 2011 until 2013 before moving to the Web.com Tour for the 2014 season. He gained his PGA Tour card and in November 2014 won the Sanderson Farms Championship. He had to wait until 2020 for his second success, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-~Am.

During the 2022-23 season, Taylor started by finishing tied sixth at the Fortinet, tied seventh at the Sony Open was runner-up to Scottie Scheffler at the Phoenix Open and then won the Canadian Open last year, holing a huge putt to defeat Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff to become the first home player to win the event in 69 years. He is only the second Canadian ever to win in Phoenix - the other was George Knudson in 1968. He started the week in 57th place in the FedEx Cup standings and finished it in sixth place.

He has made 162 cuts in 260 starts, winning four times. He has finished second twice.

Last 10 Events

WM Phoenix Open - 1st

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - CUT

The American Express - CUT

Sony Open in Hawaii - T7th

The Sentry - CUT

Zozo Championship - T21st

Shriners Children's Open - T13th

Tour Championship (72 Hole Scores) - T21st

BMW Championship - 47th

FedEx St Jude Championship - T24th

Key Stats

Driving Distance - 291.7 Yards

Driving Accuracy - 56.33%

Greens in Regulation - 72.22%

Sand Saves - 73.33%

Putts Per Round - 28.82

Scoring Average - 69.14

End of Year World Ranking Position

2020: 136

2021: 222

2022: 257

2023: 51

What's In Nick Taylor's Golf Bag?

• Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 Degrees)
• 3-Wood: Titleist TSi2 (15.0 Degrees)
• 5-Wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 Degrees)
• Hybrid: Titleist TSR2 (21 Degrees)
• Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
• Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46, 54), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58)
• Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
• Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
• Ball: Titleist Pro V1x