Nick Dunlap, the University of Alabama sophomore who on Sunday became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in more than three decades, withdrew from the field for this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California.
“After a life change over the last 24 hours, I have decided to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open,” Dunlap said Monday in a statement. “I plan to return home to Alabama to be with my family, friends and teammates. Thank you to Farmers Insurance and American Express for providing me with these opportunities.”
With his victory at the American Express in La Quinta, California, Dunlap became the first amateur to win on the circuit since Phil Mickelson in the 1991 Northern Telecom Championship. The 20-year-old is just the fifth amateur to win on the circuit. circuit since 1950 and the second youngest champion in the last 90 years. Jordan Spieth won the 2013 John Deere Classic when he was 19 years old.
As an amateur, Dunlap forfeited the $1.5 million winner's prize and the 500 FedEx Cup points that came with it.
Now he must decide whether to return to Alabama for the remainder of his second college season or join the PGA Tour as a full-time member.
“I don't know,” Dunlap said after his par putt on the 72nd hole gave him a 1-stroke victory over South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout. “I have to take a second to take in a little bit of what just happened. 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 that I need to talk to a lot. people before making that decision.
Discussions about Dunlap's future began Sunday night. By capturing the American Express, he gained full-time membership on the PGA Tour through the 2026 season. He can accept that membership up to 30 days after he ends this season. He earned full exemptions from a professional winner, including spots in lucrative signature series events such as next month's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship, which have earnings of at least $20 million.
“If this is what he decides to do, we support him because we've done our job,” Alabama coach Jay Seawell told ESPN on Monday. “We've helped him, and he's a valuable part of our team and will be for the rest of his life. And if that's the case, we'll go ahead and support him in that. I'm going to let him make that decision with his family and all that.” . They have asked me to at least participate, but in the end it will be his decision.”
Dunlap is a lifelong Alabama fan and enjoys competing with his teammates, Seawell said. Dunlap had a goal of leading the Crimson Tide to an SEC title and a national championship. He could still play in the Masters, the US Open and the Open as an amateur if he returns to school.
“He has a great sense of team and you saw the reaction of our players,” Seawell said. “They're a close-knit group and I know leaving mid-season would tear him up a little bit. He had dreams when he arrived.”
Alabama senior Canon Claycomb said he wouldn't blame Dunlap for turning pro. Dunlap's teammates have been calling him one of the top 50 players in the world for the past few months, according to Claycomb, after he became the second player (Tiger Woods is the other) to win both the US Junior Amateur and the US Junior Amateur. Amateur.
“I don't think anyone on the team blames him,” Claycomb said. “We want Nick to do what's best for Nick, and if that means turning pro, then he's going to turn pro. I know he loves the team, and I know he loves all of us, but this isn't about us.” moment. It's about him and what he needs to do to be the best version of himself and have the best opportunity to play on the PGA Tour for a long time.”
Alabama's season resumes at the Watersound Invitational on February 19. The team was returning to campus Sunday after a practice session in Orange Beach, Alabama, when they stopped. to see Dunlap make a 6-foot shot to win.
“We were on a back road,” Claycomb said. “We went out in the middle of nowhere in Alabama. We barely had Wi-Fi, we could barely watch, but we pulled over to the side of the road and watched the last hole. It was amazing.”
PANDEMONIUM!
@NickDunlap62The winning moment from inside the @AlabamaMGolf team bus! pic.twitter.com/sCBXCobMnr– PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
Regardless of what Dunlap decides, Seawell believes his star player is more than prepared for a full-time career on the PGA Tour. Dunlap is the only player to have won the US Junior Amateur, the US Amateur and a PGA Tour event as an amateur. He shot an 11-under 59 and won a local tournament by 13 strokes when he was 12 years old. In 2021, he posted a 62 in a Monday qualifier to enter the field in a Korn Ferry Tour event.
“This wasn't a kid who caught lightning in a bottle,” Seawell said. “I think he's going to be a historic figure in the game. I do. He's already done things that most people haven't done, and I think that's who he is.
“If he stays healthy and all the things that happen in athletics, I think he could be… I don't want to say Jack [Nicklaus] or Tiger, but he's the first person I've seen who could be. I don't want to put that kind of pressure on him, but I think he's a guy that I think has the ability, the mentality and the physicality to be historic in this game.”
