His family from Alabama comes to watch him play on the PGA TOUR.
Nick Dunlap officially turned pro and joined the PGA TOUR on Thursday. There were happy tears, sad tears, and tired tears. Aside from his parents, there was also his coach, girlfriend, teammates, agent, trainer, as well as a sports psychologist, as well as a row of TV cameras.
It was so packed that it was like Nick Saban’s press conferences, which happen twice a week in the room where the event was held. Nick Dunlap is a sophomore at Alabama. He is going pro following becoming the very first novice in 33 years to win a tournament on the PGA Tour.
The part that stuck with me, though, was two days earlier, when no one was there. That’s when Dunlap said goodbye to all of his teammates in a meeting that not many people will soon forget.
Dunlap made his choice public on Thursday at a news conference on campus. This was four days after the defending U.S. Amateur champion claimed The American Express. He won by one shot with a par putt from six feet away on the last hole.
Dunlap said, “I have the best team, and I’m very thankful to say that.” “I do mean that.” But I would like to say right now that I am now a professional. I am willing to join the PGA Tour.
The 20-year-old will play in his first professional event on Feb. 1 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It was family, Alabama golf teacher Jay Seawell, and teammates who were watching Dunlap wipe away tears as he thanked those close to him.
Nick Dunlap, a member of Greystone and a former Spain Park golfer, made history and national news when he won The American Express on Sunday, January 21.
He then announced that he would become a professional golfer and join the PGA Tour. Dunlap told the news at a press conference at the College of Alabama on Thursday, January 25, along with his university coaches and teammates.
He said it was both an easy and a hard choice, but his family and friends supported his choice to go on the tour. It was lucky for me that everyone agreed with me, and my fellow students were great and always there for me, Dunlap said.
“It has to do with Alabama’s family. They were always there for me and encouraged me to follow my dreams.”
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which takes place from February 1–4, will be Dunlap’s first professional event. Besides that, he will be able to play in most PGA Tour events, along with the Masters, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship.
Dunlap won The American Express by one stroke, setting a tournament record of 29-under par. He was the first amateur winner on the PGA Tour as Phil Mickelson in 1991.
He beat Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Zach Johnson, and Will Zalatoris, who are some of the best golfers in the world, to win.
In the fall, he was Alabama’s best golfer, with an average score of 67. At the SEC Match Play, he won the stroke play medalist award.
His 12-under-par 60 in the third round on Saturday, Jan. 20, at La Quinta Country Club put him three strokes ahead going into the final round over the Pete Dye Stadium Course. This put him in first place in the tournament.
Dunlap was thought to be the best amateur golfer in the world after he won the U.S. Amateur in 2023. He was only the second person, after Tiger Woods, to win the United States Junior Amateur along with the U.S. Amateur.
After his success as an amateur, which included five starts on the PGA Tour, he is now ranked No. 68 in the world. The American Express was his first job.
Dunlap is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. He will stay enrolled at the school, but he will not play golf to feed the Crimson Tide since he is changing careers.