Nick Dunlap became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991 at last week’s American Express, and earn the plaudits of two-time winner Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm has taking to social media to sing the praises of 20-year-old star Nick Dunlap, after he became the first amateur in 33 years to win a PGA Tour event at the American Express.
Dunlap wrote himself into golf’s history books, fending off the likes of Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele to win the event in California on Sunday. In doing so he became the first player since LIV Golf stalwart Phil Mickelson to win a Tour event as an amateur, after he landed his first win in 1991.
Unsurprisingly Dunlap received the plaudits of some of golf’s biggest names on the back of his victory, including Mickelson’s fellow LIV player Rahm, who has tipped the youngster to become a future star.
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He wrote on X: “What an amazing accomplishment by @NickDunlap62, stellar play and way to pull through under pressure to join a very selective group of players to win PGA tour events as an amateur! Great future ahead of this great talent! Congratulations.”
Rahm was the man who had won the American Express title a year before Dunlap’s famous win, but was unable to defend his crown this time around after being banned by the PGA Tour due to his LIV Golf loyalties. In Rahm’s absence it was of course all about Dunlap, who held his nerve with gutsy final round performance.
Despite holding a three-shot lead heading into the final round, Dunlap found himself two shots off the pace with five holes to play. Birdies then dropped at the 14th and 16th, as he got himself back into a tie for the lead, before close rival Sam Burns found the water on the 17th.
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Dunlap knew he needed a par to become champion at the 72nd hole, and made it thanks to a six-foot putt on the final green. The 20-year-old had been a calm and collective figure all week, but his emotions finally broke out after officially becoming a PGA Tour winner.
Discussing exactly how it felt post-round, he said: “[It was] nothing like I had ever felt. It’s so cool. I told Sam [Burns] numerous times, like, it is so cool to be out here and experience this as an amateur. Whether I had made that or missed that, if you would have told me that, you know, come Wednesday night I would have a putt to win this golf tournament, I wouldn’t believe you.”
Looking back at the all-important putt at 18, he added: “As a kid, you kind of whack it around all over the putting green and every putt’s for a chance to win, whether that’s a PGA Tour event, the Masters, the U.S. Open. And to have that putt, I took a little bit longer than I normally might, and just take in the moment and nothing’s for granted. I may not ever have that chance again, and I just want to embrace it. You know, like I said, it may not ever happen again.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
