Amateur sensation Nick Dunlap quits PGA Tour event after historic victory
Less than 24 hours after his epic triumph at The American Express, amateur sensation Nick Dunlap has announced he has pulled out of the next stop on the PGA Tour.
The University of Alabama sophomore became the first Amateur to win on tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991, announcing himself on the big stage by holding off charges from the likes of Ryder Cup stars Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Sam Burns at PGA West in La Quinta, California on Sunday.
The fact Dunlap has entered the winner's circle is not a surprise, but the immediacy of the 20-year-old's success is. The Huntsville, Alabama native is the reigning US Amateur champion and became only the second golfer after Tiger Woods to win the US Junior Amateur and the US Amateur championships.
Dunlap surged ahead on Saturday with an incredible 12-under-par round of 60, and he followed it up by carding a composed round of two-under on Sunday to hold off his challengers. He made the biggest all-time leap in the Official World Gold Ranking as a result, jumping to 68th in the world on Monday morning after starting last week ranked 4,129th on the planet.
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In the wake of such an enormous achievement, Dunlap has announced he has withdrawn from the field for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines near San Diego, California, which starts on Thursday. “After a life-changing last 24 hours, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open," he said.
"I plan to return home to Alabama to be with family, friends and teammates. Thank you to the Farmers Insurance Open and The American Express for giving me these opportunities."
Nick Dunlap sank a clutch putt on 18 to win The American Express on Sunday. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Due to his amateur status, Dunlap will not receive a penny of the £1.18million prize money that was up for grabs at The Amex. The top prize instead went to runner-up Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa, who made a late run to finish as Dunlap's closest challenger.
However, Dunlap has earned the offer of a two-year exemption for the PGA Tour, which would secure his status until the end of the 2026 season, if he decides to turn professional. He would also have the opportunity to play at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in March and the PGA Championship at Valhalla in May if he goes pro.
His win at the US Amateur had already secured him a place at The Masters, the US Open and The Open Championship, although the latter is contingent on him keeping his amateur status. And it seems like he is in no rush to jump into the paid ranks despite Sunday's historic triumph.
“I don’t know,” he said in an interview with PGA TOUR Radio. “I have to take a second to let what just happened sink in a little bit. That’s a decision that’s not just about me. It affects a lot of people, and obviously, I’m going to try to enjoy this. It’s a conversation I need to have with a lot of people before I make that decision.”
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