20-Year-Old Amateur Golfer Nick Dunlap Wins PGA Tour Event, Unable to Claim $1.5 Million Prize

Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old sophomore golfer from the University of Alabama, secured victory at the American Express tournament held at the PGA West golf course in La Quinta, California. Despite finishing one stroke ahead of professional golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dunlap, maintaining amateur status, cannot claim the $1,512,000 prize. The monetary award will go to the runner-up, Bezuidenhout, while third-place tie recipients will be compensated as if finishing in second place.

Dunlap’s remarkable win, with a score of 29-under par, makes him the first amateur to achieve such a feat in a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991. Furthermore, he holds the distinction of being the youngest amateur winner in a tour event since 1910.

In an interview posted on the PGA Tour’s X platform, Dunlap expressed gratitude for the support and acknowledged the significance of the moment. His victory follows previous successes, including winning the US Amateur championship and the US Junior Amateur championship in 2021, joining the exclusive ranks of Tiger Woods.

Dunlap’s triumph also qualifies him to turn professional at any point, with automatic PGA Tour membership through the 2026 season. However, he has the flexibility to retain his amateur status until the conclusion of the 2024 season, deciding later when to transition to the professional circuit. In a post-win interview with PGA Tour Radio, Dunlap admitted uncertainty about his future plans, emphasizing the need to savor the moment and consider the impact of his decision on various aspects of his life.