Nick Dunlap drained a six-foot putt for par on the 18th hole to claim a one-shot victory at The American Express, becoming the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
“Most nervous I’ve ever been, by far,” Dunlap said. “Just tried to breathe, but also look up and enjoy it a little bit.”
The 20-year-old reigning U.S. Amateur champion shot a final-round 70 at PGA West’s Stadium Course to reach 29-under par and break the tournament scoring record as a 72-hole event.
Mickelson took to X to congratulate and praise Dunlap.
“Such an impressive performance by Nick Dunlap,” wrote Mickelson. “Congratulations on an incredible win. This is just the beginning.”
Dunlap, as an amateur, doesn’t get the $1.5 million first-place prize nor the 500 FedEx Cup points, which goes to Christiaan Bezuidenhout (65).
The Alabama star has a choice to make now: if remains at Alabama he gets in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open as the U.S. Amateur champion. But if he turns pro, and joins the PGA Tour, he gets in the Masters and U.S. Open while almost guaranteed to qualify for the British and PGA, along with the tour’s remaining seven $20 million signature events.
“I have no idea, I really don’t,” Dunlap said about his future. “It’s really cool to have that opportunity in the first place. Starting the week, if you would have said, ‘Hey, in five days you’re going to have a PGA Tour card, or an opportunity for two years,’
“I would have looked at you sideways. But that’s something that it doesn’t just affect me. It affects a lot of people — Coach back there, and my teammates — and it’s a conversation I need to have with a lot of people before I make that decision.”
This week’s Winner’s Circle is powered by Amazon, featuring Srixon.
Pro-File
Full Name: Nick Dunlap
Nationality: American
College: Alabama
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight: 180 lb
Birthdate: Dec. 23, 2003 (age 20)
Native: Huntsville, Alabama
Status: Amateur
Highest World Rank: 68th (1/2024)
The American Express: Top 5
Scores
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Nick Dunlap (a) -29 (-2)
2. Christiaan Bezuidenhout -28 (-7)
3. Kevin Yu -27 (-9)
3. Xander Schauffele -27 (-7)
3. Justin Thomas -27 (-4)
Money
Pos-Player-(Money)
1. Nick Dunlap (–)
2. Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($1.5m)
3. Kevin Yu ($635k)
3. Xander Schauffele ($635k)
3. Justin Thomas ($635k)
Nick Dunlap’s Winning Numbers
Topline Stats:
Driving Distance: 313.5 yards (6th)
Fairways: 52.9% (57th)
Greens: 77.3% (41st)
Putts/GIR: 1.529 (16th)
Birdies: 7 (18th)
Nick Dunlap’s Career Wins
PGA Tour: 1
2024 The American Express
Amateur: 9
2023 U.S. Amateur
2023 SEC Stroke Play
2023 North & South Amateur
2023 Northeast Amateur
2023 Linger Longer Invitational
2021 Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship
2021 AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic
2021 U.S. Junior Amateur
2018 Alabama State Jr Championship
WITB: Nick Dunlap
Nick Dunlap plays mostly TaylorMade, including driver, irons, and wedges. Other gear includes a Ping 3-wood, Srixon long iron, Odyssey putter and Titleist golf ball.
- Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9°)
- 3-wood: Ping G425 LST (14.5°)
- Iron: Srixon ZX (3)
- Irons: TaylorMade P7MC (4-9)
- Sand: TaylorMade MG3 (48°)
- Gap : TaylorMade MG4 (52°)
- Sand: TaylorMade MG4 (56Ëš)
- Lob: TaylorMade MG4 (60Ëš)
- Putter: Odyssey O-Works #7 Tank
- Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Credits: Getty Images, PGA Tour Media
