Historic tournament victory
Record-breaking youngster Dunlap amazes the golf world
January 22, 2024, 8:12 a.m
Such success is very rare in golf – and hasn’t been for 33 years. Nick Dunlap is an amateur who wins a tournament on the PGA Tour. The last person to achieve this is one of the greats. It is still unclear when Dunlap will turn professional.
American Nick Dunlap became the first amateur to win a tournament on the PGA Tour of professional golf in 33 years. The 20-year-old won the US tour competition in La Quinta, California. After an exciting and spectacular showdown on the last nine holes, the youngster prevailed by one shot over the South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout. The reigning amateur champion also broke the tournament record with 29 strokes under par.
“It felt like the script was already written,” said Dunlap, who crossed the finish line with a round of 70, by far his weakest of the week: “I’m so happy that I’m standing here, that’s how I am “I’ve never felt like that before.” However, the winner’s prize money of $1.51 million goes to the runner-up – as an amateur, Dunlap cannot benefit from the PGA payout. The student at the University of Alabama nevertheless achieved something historic.
The last time an amateur won a PGA title was in 1991. Phil Mickelson, now a six-time major winner, achieved this in Arizona. Dunlap is also the youngest amateur winner since 1910 and the second youngest PGA tournament winner in the past 90 years – only Jordan Spieth was younger at 19 in 2013.
According to his parents, it has not yet been decided whether Dunlap will remain an amateur as a student or switch to the PGA Tour and become a professional. The win gives him the right to a spot on the PGA Tour until 2026. As the reigning amateur champion in the USA, he could already take part in the majors US Masters, US Open and British Open even without professional status.