By: Justin Gincauskas
20-year-old Nick Dunlap made history Sunday at The American Express, becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson accomplished the feat in 1991.
“I felt like the script today was already written,” Dunlap said after the victory. “I was just going to give it everything I had, and whether I go shoot 75 or 65 or 70, I was just going to give it everything I had.”
Dunlap entered the final round sitting atop the leaderboard by three strokes after firing a third-round 60. It looked like the nerves would be too much for Dunlap as he carded a double bogey on the seventh hole. However, he would recover quickly, birdieing the next hole as he finished the front nine at even par.
The Youngest Amateur Winner Since 1910
Dunlap added two more birdies on the back nine, including a clutch birdie putt on 16 to tie the lead. As he headed to the 72nd tee, Dunlap held a one-shot advantage over Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Needing to make a putt just under six feet on the final hole to win, Nick Dunlap delivered, becoming the youngest amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1910. The University of Alabama sophomore finished the tournament at 29 under par.
“It’s so cool,” Dunlap said. “I told Sam numerous times, like, it is so cool to be out here and experience this as an amateur. Whether I had made that or missed that, if you would have told me that, you know, come Wednesday night I would have a putt to win this golf tournament, I wouldn’t believe you.”
Although Dunlap will not receive the $1.5 million first-place prize for winning the tournament, he is exempt on the PGA Tour through 2026. He is also eligible to play at the Masters this year and could compete in the seven remaining Signature Events in 2024 if he turns pro.
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