Sport

Nick Dunlap wins American Express, first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991

James Brown

Nick Dunlap made PGA Tour history Sunday, becoming the first amateur in 33 years to win on the tour by claiming The American Express in La Quinta, California. He trailed five-time Tour winner and Ryder Cup veteran Sam Burns on the back nine before rallying on the final three holes to finish at 29 under par. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Dunlap, 20, is a sophomore at Alabama. Becoming the first player since Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win on the PGA Tour before turning professional, Dunlap has a two-year exemption to play in the tour’s biggest events when he decides to leave college golf. After winning the US Amateur last year, he is already eligible for all four majors in 2024.
  • Dunlap and Burns were tied on the par-3 17th, but Dunlap hit his tee shot on the green and watched as Burns found water and finished with double bogey.
  • Dunlap shot a 60 in the third round on Saturday to take a three-shot lead over Burns and four over Justin Thomas heading into Sunday, then shot 70 on Sunday to win the tournament.

What happened

Dunlap had a three-stroke lead entering the par-4 7th hole, which features a forced carry off the tee. Unfortunately, the amateur found water on his first tee shot; he knew it instantly and let the club go on his backswing. He had to drop, lie down and had a 15-foot bogey with which he could not shake the cup. When Burns birdied the same hole, he created a tie and allowed most of the rest of the top 10 to feel like they were back in it. Burns took the lead with birdies at Nos. 10 and 11.

So for most of Sunday’s back nine, it looked like Dunlap’s story was going to be one of a young player with tremendous promise who came up a little short against a certified star like Burns. But Dunlap’s father told Golf Channel in an on-course interview that his daughter might have enough to regain the lead, and he was right. A birdie on the par-5 16th moved Dunlap to 29 under and into a tie with Burns, sending the duo (Thomas had lost his rhythm) to 17th for a two-hole shootout. It didn’t take long to find a victor.

Burns, who was bogey-free in his final 24 holes, missed the island green on the right of Pete Dye’s Stadium Course and fell into the water. He had to make a drop and then two putts to stay two away from the lead. Meanwhile, Dunlap looked like a veteran when it came to finding the green and two-putting for par.

Burns then hit his tee shot on the 18th into the water left of the fairway and doubled the hole, finishing in a tie for sixth place.

Dunlap missed the fairway (something that happened frequently on Sunday), but his approach game was again excellent, staying straight and away from the water. His second shot took him to the side of the green and his third rolled to within six feet of the hole. He dropped the putt into the cup, punched it loose, and then hugged his caddy, his family, and his girlfriend.

Christian Bezuidenhout finished second at 28 under par after shooting a final-round 65.

What this means for Dunlap

Here’s the part of the story: In addition to the tie with Mickelson, Dunlap is also the second-youngest person to win on the PGA Tour since World War II (Jordan Spieth is the first) and the first reigning American Amateur champion since Tiger Woods in 1996. to win on the PGA Tour. Mickelson, Spieth and Tigre? Pretty good company.

Dunlap, who is 20 years and 29 days old, does not automatically have to turn professional to maintain the privileges of his victory, although as an amateur he lost the $1.51 million intended for the winner of The American Express.

Regardless of when he drops the (a) from his name on the leaderboards, Dunlap is a big deal who cemented his status as a rising star in professional golf this weekend. It was one thing to shoot 64-65-60 over the first three days of the tournament, playing with a very small gallery following him. On Sunday he was with Burns and Thomas in the final group, with all that that entails. Even when he wasn’t making putts and settling for pars on the first 15 holes, he never seemed nervous and focused on the self-confidence techniques that he has made a priority in his round preparation.

“Hitting that ball in the water on 7 tested everything I had,” Dunlap told The Golf Channel.

Required reading

(Top photo by Nick Dunlap: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

By James Brown

Related Posts