Golf Amateur Nick Dunlap’s Historic Win
I cannot wait to talk about this on The Ball Washer Podcast, something happened over the weekend that hasn’t happened in 32 years on the PGA tour. Amateur Nick Dunlap won the American Express by one shot. This was the first PGA tour victory for an amateur since Phil Mickelson back in 1991. Now, the question is what will Nick do next.
Last weekend was one college sophomore Nick Dunlap will never forget. He shot 2 under in the final round of the American Express to win by 1 over Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Like I said, this is historic, it hasn’t happened in more than 3 decades. The last guy to do it was Phil Mickelson, who went on to have a pretty decent career…
Nick is truly is some rare air with this win. He also became one of six to win on tour as a 20 year old since 1950. Nick is also the youngest to win a tour event since Jordan Spieth who was 19. Truly a feat not many can say they have achieved. But now, the real questions come in. What will Nick decide to do.
Here is the putt that won it for Nick:
WOW! 🏆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
20-year-old amateur Nick Dunlap is a PGA TOUR champion.
He's the youngest amateur to win since 1910. pic.twitter.com/DKQmK0fuAe
THE BIG DECISION
Dunlap now has a massive choice to make. Does he return to college for the year, or turn pro and join the PGA Tour as a full time member. Nick gained full status on the PGA Tour with the win, which means he can play in every event the tour has to offer. A wild decision for a kid who is only 20 years old. Now here is another option, when winning a tour event it gives you full status for 2 years. Nick could finish school this year, then turn pro. But should he ride this momentum and join now? That is a massive choice.
Here is what Nick had to say about the decision he has to make:
“After a life changing last 24 hours, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open,” Dunlap said Monday in a statement. “I plan to return home to Alabama to be with family, friends and teammates. Thank you to Farmers Insurance and American Express for giving me these opportunities.”
Another part of this win that I don’t love, Nick couldn’t get any of the winnings because he is not a pro. He ended having to surrender the 1.5 million dollars which went to the golfer who finished second. With the way NIL works in college now, I feel like this rule has to be changed in some way. I don’t have that answer now, but we will discuss it on the Ball Washer Podcast.
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Here is more on the historic win.
