On Sunday, history was recorded as Nick Dunlap became the first amateur golfer in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour.
WOW! 🏆
20-year-old amateur Nick Dunlap is a PGA TOUR champion.
He's the youngest amateur to win since 1910. pic.twitter.com/DKQmK0fuAe
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
Dunlap, the 20-year-old University of Alabama sophomore, made a six-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout at The American Express.
The reigning U.S. Amateur champion became the first amateur winner since Phil Mickelson at the Tucson Open in 1991. Playing in just his fourth tour event, he became only the seventh amateur winner since 1945, and the third since 1957.
On Sunday, he lost that lead on the front nine on the Stadium Course at PGA West but capped by his recovery from two errant shots on the 18th for the winning par.
Dunlap shared after his record,
“Nothing like I’ve ever felt. It was so cool to be out here and experience this as an amateur. Whether I had made that or missed that (last putt), if you had told me (on) Wednesday night I would have a putt to win this golf tournament, I wouldn’t believe you.”
He ended with a two-under 70 to finish at 29-under 259 and broke a scoring record in a 72-hole event. He’s also the youngest winner in the tournament history, and he became the youngest amateur to win on the tour since 1910.
The 20-year-old student of the University of Alabama sank a birdie putt at the par-five 16th to equal the lead of fellow US player Sam Burns at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California.
Even though he will not receive the 1.5 million dollars prize money, he will secure his PGA Tour card for two years. Dunlap and Tiger Woods now clinched the title of being the only golfers to win both the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur.
