Golfer Nick Taylor caddie Dave Merkle played professionally in the European Challenge Tour. Taylor had known Dave since their teenage years when he was 17.
The 35-year-old Canadian golfer, who broke into professional golf in late 2010, competes in the PGA Tour. Since making his debut 12 years ago, Nick has achieved three crucial victories in the PGA platform.
His first triumph was a two-stroke win at the Sanderson Farms Championship in November 2014. Taylor had to wait another six years to claim his second PGA Tour success as he dominated the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2020.
Moreover, his third victory came recently at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open beating English golfer Tommy Fleetwood in the playoff. Taylor celebrated his historic win with his family and Dave.
Who is Dave Merkle?
Dave Merkle is a former professional golfer who serves as an advocate for the Canadian Diabetes Association. Merkle was born in Shelburne, Ontario, Canada.
He first had an encounter with Nick when they were both in their teen years while practicing golf on a course. They quickly formed a good friendship bond that would last a lifetime.
During his college years at Kent State University in 2008, Dave was named the Honorable Mention All-American. In addition, he had the opportunity to play for Canada on two occasions in a global competition for amateur teams.
In late 2010, Merkle and Taylor both became professionals and began their journey. But things took a different turn for Dave when he started his as in 2011; he was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, which completely changed his career path.
In 2012, Nick Taylor Caddy secured a spot in the RBC Canadian Open by shooting an impressive 66 in the qualifier. That same year, he achieved his highest professional ranking by finishing 8th in the Canadian Tour Championship on the PGA Tour.
The 2012 RBC Canadian Open ignited a new interest within Dave in using golf as an outlet to raise awareness about Diabetes.
Dave Merkle Founded A Fundraiser
Dave established the "Dufferin DiabeTees Day of Champions" in 2014. He has been very vocal about educating people about Diabetes.
To help children with type-1 diabetes attend D-Camps, summer camps specifically designed for them, Dave founded a fundraising event presented by Scotiabank at Shelburne Golf Course.
The event aimed to support the Canadian Diabetes Association's campership program, which helps endow the expenses associated with these camps. The first fundraising in 2014 collected around $41,000, which enabled numerous children to attend D-Camps.
Nick Taylor Net Worth 2023
Nick Taylor has a net worth of 3 million dollars from his professional golf career. Taylor received his first PGA Tour card in the 2014-15 campaign.
He makes about $1 million annually through his professional golf career and endorsement agreements.
Nick Taylor PGA Tour Wins
| Year | PGA Tournament | Purse Sum |
| 2023 | RBC Canadian Open | $1,620,000 |
| 2020 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | $1,404,000 |
| 2014 | Sanderson Farms Championship | $720,000 |
Nick Taylor Career Earnings by Year:
- 2014/15 - $1,072,360
- 2015/16 - $628,756
- 2016/17 - $1,255,259
- 2017/18 - $899,373
- 2018/19 - $1,073,663
- 2019/20 - $2,060,539
- 2020/21 - $832,637
- 2021/22 - $819,351
- 2022/23 - $4,057,836
In his 12 years of professional golf, the 35-year-old Winnipeg native has amassed over $12.5 million from competition prize money. So to put things into perspective, Nick Taylor salary accounts for a whopping $1 million a year.
The 2022-23 season has been fruitful for him as he has already surpassed his yearly highest earning of the 2019-20 campaign by nearly a double-digit.
In November 2014, Nick succeeded at the Sanderson Farms Championship, marking his first victory on the PGAT. He also became the first Canadian-born player in seven years to claim a win on the prestigious PGA Tour.
Similarly, in February 2020, something exciting unfolded for Taylor as he found himself in the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, leading by just one shot ahead of veteran Phil Mickelson.
Despite challenging windy conditions, he shot a solid final round of 70 and emerged victorious, clinching the tournament with an impressive four-stroke lead over Kevin Streelman.
Nick Taylor Canadian Open 2023 Payout
Nick Taylor earns a staggering $1,620,000 as the winner's share of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open. The total purse of the tournaments was $9 million.
RBC Canadian Open 2023 Leaderboard and Payout
| Rank | Player | Prize money |
| 1 | Nick Taylor [CAN] | $1,620,000 |
| 2 | Tommy Fleetwood [ENG] | $981,000 |
| T3 | Aaron Rai [ENG] | $477,000 |
| T4 | Tyrrell Hatton [ENG] | $477,000 |
| T5 | CT Pan [TAI] | $477,000 |
Nick Taylor purse for the 2022-23 season got a significant boost after he won the Canadian Open. Taylor received a staggering $1.6 million from the tour, which brought his total earnings to an impressive $4 million this year.
For the past three years, he had been absent from the PGA Championship and had participated only in the 2022 U.S. Open.
However, this year has been remarkable for Taylor. He has had a fantastic 2023 so far, teaming up with fellow golfer Adam Hadwin. The duo secured an impressive second-place finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Hadwin also joined the party after Nick Taylor's putt secured his victory at the Canadian Open in Oakdale. When he went to the green to join the celebration, a security guard mistakenly thought he was a fan and attempted to prevent him from entering.
Taylor put an end to Nike-sponsored golf professional Rory McIlroy's back-to-back victories by becoming the first Canadian in nearly seven decades to win the RBC Canadian Open.
Although his brother was present at the ceremony, it was unfortunate that Nick Taylor wife Andie Taylor, their children, and his parents were unable to attend.
While preparing to accept the trophy, Taylor had a heartwarming moment in the locker room as he spoke with his other half Andie. His longtime caddie, Merkle, could not hold back his tears when Taylor's missis surprised him with Facetime on the 18th green.
