Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap won the American Express on Sunday afternoon in La Quinta, Calif., becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
He also became the youngest amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1910.
oh! 🏆
Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old amateur, is a PGA Tour champion.
He is the youngest amateur to win since 1910. pic.twitter.com/DKQmK0fuAe
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
Dunlap held off the rest with a final round 70, finishing at 29 under. He shot 64 and 65 in the first two rounds to qualify, and on Saturday he hit an outrageous 60 to hold a three-stroke lead going into the final day.
He beat Christian Bezuidenhout by one stroke and fellow former Crimson Tide golfer Justin Thomas, who was in the final group with Sam Barnes, by two strokes. Burns held the lead until the end, but hit the water twice on the final two holes and finished at 25 under.
What a scene!
What a moment.Nick Dunlap celebrates victory with family and friends.@PGATOURU | @AmExGolf pic.twitter.com/dHtsaojlH7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
Canon Claycomb, Dunlap's teammate at Alabama, has been posting about Dunlap on social media all week, sharing a video from the team bus of Dunlap making the final putt for par.
Oh my god, he did it. Nick Dunlap, I love you. RMFT. 🐘❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/KF39rLloog
— Canon Claycomb (@canonclaycomb) January 22, 2024
With this victory, Dunlap was ranked 68th in the world despite his amateur status. He is also the ninth amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1940.
Dunlap, a sophomore at the University of Alabama, became the second University of Alabama golfer in history to win the U.S. Amateur and had already qualified for the 2024 Masters, U.S. Open and British Open Championship.
Michael Brauner is a senior sports analyst and contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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