It’s a masterful tour de force that Nick Dunlap has achieved.
This 20-year-old student, amateur, managed to win against the professionals of the American circuit this Sunday on American Express.
Dunlap became simply the first amateur golfer since Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win a PGA Tour title.
A victory acquired in the Desert Classic, at La Quinta in California.
This finance student, in his second year at the University of Alabama, started in the lead for the last round, made a winning putt on the 18th hole to sign a card of 70 (-2) and win with a little stroke advance.
“I felt like today's script was already written?
I've never felt anything like this,” explained the winner at the end of the fourth round, his worst performance of the week.
The second place received the winner's check...
The day before, Dunlap had signed an improbable 60 (-12) to take the reins of the tournament.
An improbable success even if he had already shown all his qualities by winning the US Amateur in the summer of 2023.
But despite his incredible victory, the young American will not receive any money.
As an amateur, he cannot claim the prize reserved for the winner, which amounts to 1.51 million dollars (1.4 million euros) and which therefore goes to his runner-up, the South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, one step behind him in the rankings.
Although he did not receive the winner's check, Dunlap will be able to become a PGA Tour member at any time during the 2024 North American Tour season, which will guarantee him significant future income provided he perform.
Fantastic feat from Nick Dunlap, the amateur who beats the pros 🏆🔝👍
➡ Tour 4⛳
PGA TOUR - The American Express pic.twitter.com/oDp9h3Dcti
— CANAL+ Golf (@Canalplusgolf) January 22, 2024
He will also benefit from the advantages of any PGA Tour winner, namely membership until the 2026 season, and in particular the right to compete in the Masters and the PGA Championship.
The 20-year-old American can also be satisfied with having signed a few lines in the record books.
He became the second-youngest winner on the PGA Tour in the past 90 years, behind Jordan Spieth who won at age 19 at the 2013 John Deere Classic.
The two French entrants, Matthieu Pavon and Paul Barjon, finished further back in 39th place, both at -17, twelve strokes behind the winner.