Student of game: Dunlap joins Tour after breakthrough win
I’m turning professional. I’m accepting my PGA Tour membership. Gosh dang, I didn’t think I was going to cry.
Nick Dunlap
Alabama University student Nick Dunlap is turning pro after becoming the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour.
Dunlap announced his decision yesterday in a campus news conference, four days after the reigning United States Amateur champion won The American Express.
“I truly do have the best team and I’m very grateful to say that,” Dunlap said. “I mean that wholeheartedly. But at this time, I want to announce that I’m turning professional. I’m accepting my PGA Tour membership.”
The 20-year-old will make his professional debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am next week.
With family, Alabama golf coach Jay Seawell and teammates looking on, Dunlap wiped away tears while thanking those close to him.
“Gosh dang, I didn’t think I was going to cry,” he said.
Dunlap had withdrawn from the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines to consider his options. South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, runner-up at The American Express, collected the US$1.5 million ($2.46m) winner’s cheque, not Dunlap.
Thanks to his victory, Dunlap has a PGA Tour card through until 2026. He will be eligible for seven US$20m signature events this year, along with three majors.
“It’s a week [yesterday] that the first round started, and a week ago, if you’d told me that I had the opportunity to live out my dream as a 20-yearold — it’s pretty surreal,” said Dunlap, who plans to continue living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Dunlap said he informed his Alabama teammates of his decision on Wednesday.
“I’ve known him since he was 10 years old when he came to golf camp,” Seawell said. “I’ve known his dream and I’m honoured he gave us the opportunity to coach him.”
Dunlap is only the third amateur in the past 68 years to win on the PGA Tour, joining Phil Mickelson (1991 Tucson Open) and Scott Verplank (1985 Western Open).
Dunlap is the first person to win both the US junior amateur and amateur titles since Tiger Woods.
It’s heady stuff being mentioned in the company of even a young Mickelson and Woods.
“If you grew up playing golf, you always wanted to be like Tiger or Phil,” Dunlap said. “And to be compared to them is why I practise and work out and do everything I do to be on that level and that stage.
“To be considered with Tiger and Phil is pretty remarkable. And I know 10- and 11- and 12-year-old me would be pretty happy right now.”