Nick Dunlap made PGA Tour historical past Sunday, changing into the first amateur in 33 years to win on tour by claiming The American Express in La Quinta, Calif. He trailed five-time tour winner and Ryder Cup vet Sam Burns on the again 9 earlier than rallying over the ultimate three holes to end 29-under. Here’s what you want to know:
- Dunlap, 20, is a sophomore at Alabama. By changing into the first participant since Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win on the PGA Tour earlier than turning skilled Dunlap has a two-year exemption into the tour’s greatest occasions when he does resolve to go away school golf. After successful the U.S. Amateur final yr he’s already eligible for all 4 majors in 2024.
- Dunlap and Burns had been tied going to the par-3 seventeenth, however Dunlap put his tee shot on the inexperienced and watched as Burns discovered water and ended up with double bogey.
- Dunlap shot a third-round 60 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead over Burns and 4 over Justin Thomas going into Sunday, then shot a 70 on Sunday to win the event.
What occurred
Dunlap had a three-stroke lead stepping to the par-4 seventh gap, which encompasses a pressured carry off the tee. Unfortunately, the amateur discovered water together with his first tee shot — he knew it immediately, letting the membership go in his backswing. He had to drop, lay up and had a 15-footer for bogey that he couldn’t scare the cup on. When Burns birdied the identical gap it created a tie and allowed a lot of the remainder of the highest 10 to really feel like they had been again on this factor. Burns took the lead with birdies on 10 and 11.
So for a lot of the again 9 Sunday it appeared like Dunlap’s story was going to be of a younger participant with large promise developing only a bit brief in opposition to an authorized star like Burns. But Dunlap’s father informed Golf Channel in an on-course interview that his son could have sufficient in him to get the lead again, and he was proper. A birdie on the par-5 sixteenth received Dunlap to 29-under and a tie with Burns, sending the duo (Thomas had fallen off the tempo) to No. 17 for a two-hole shootout. It didn’t take lengthy to discover a victor.
Birdie on 16 to tie the lead!
20-year-old amateur Nick Dunlap continues to impress.
@PGATOURU | @TheAmExGolf pic.twitter.com/7OZpzWhIUF— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 21, 2024
Burns, who had zero bogeys in his final 24 holes, missed the island inexperienced on Pete Dye’s Stadium Course proper, splashing into the water. He had to take a drop, then two-putted to fall two off the lead. Meanwhile, Dunlap regarded just like the vet find the inexperienced and two-putting for par.
Burns then put his tee shot on 18 into the water left of the golf green and doubled the opening, ending tied for sixth.
Dunlap missed the golf green (a frequent prevalence Sunday) however his method play was once more top-notch, staying proper and away from water. His second shot received him green-side, and his third rolled to inside six ft of the opening. He dropped the putt into the cup, let go along with a fist pump, then hugged his caddy, household and girlfriend.
Christian Bezuidenhout completed second at 28-under after taking pictures a final-round 65.
What this implies for Dunlap
Here’s the historical past half: In addition to the tie with Mickelson, Dunlap can be the second-youngest particular person to win on the PGA Tour since World War II (Jordan Spieth is the first) and the first reigning U.S. Amateur champion since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win on the PGA Tour. Mickelson, Spieth and Tiger? Pretty good firm.
Nick Dunlap has an actual shot this weekend to be the following amateur to win a Tour occasion. This technology of Aberg, Surratt, Sargent, Dunlap, and M.W. Lee are the youngest and most gifted group of gamers I’ve seen and will likely be a pressure for many years.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 20, 2024
Dunlap, who’s 20 years and 29 days previous, doesn’t have to flip professional robotically to preserve the privileges of his win — although beneath his amateur standing, he has misplaced out on the $1.51 million earmarked for the winner of The American Express.
Regardless of when he removes the (a) from his title on leaderboards, Dunlap is a really large deal who cemented his standing as a rising star in skilled golf this weekend. It was one factor to shoot 64-65-60 over the first three days of the event, taking part in with a really small gallery following him. On Sunday he was with Burns and Thomas within the ultimate group, with all that entails. Even when he wasn’t making putts and settling for pars over the first 15 holes, he by no means regarded rattled, focusing on the self-belief strategies he has made a precedence in his spherical preparation.
“Hitting that ball in the water on 7 tested everything I had,” Dunlap informed The Golf Channel.
Required studying
(Top picture of Nick Dunlap: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
Discussion about this post