Amateur golfer faces historic opportunity on PGA Tour

American Nick Dunlap has a great chance to become the first amateur golfer to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years, when he scored -27 and led by three strokes after round 3 of The American Express 2024.

Since 1945, only seven amateur golfers have won a PGA Tour event. Phil Mickelson was the most recent, at the 1991 Tucson Open at the age of 20.

Now, Dunlap, also 20 years old, has a chance to repeat that feat at The American Express 2024. The tournament takes place on three par-72 courses in California: Laquinta Country Club, Stadium and Nicklaus Course in the PGA West complex.

Dunlap was the only amateur among the initial list of 156 golfers. Despite this, he came close to the top of the leaderboard by the end of the second round at Stadium. At that point, Dunlap was tied for third with a score of -15, while Sam Burns was in the lead at -17.

In the third round on January 20, Dunlap went to La Quinta and raised his score to -27 thanks to 10 birdies and an eagle on hole 6 from a long putt.

Dunlap celebrates after scoring a hole-in-one in round 3 of The American Express on January 20. Photo: X / theamexgolf — Dunlap celebrates after scoring a hole-in-one in round 3 of The American Express on January 20. Photo: *X / theamexgolf*

Burns, a five-time PGA Tour winner, scored seven more points at Stadium and had to relinquish his lead to Dunlap.

Justin Thomas, a two-time major winner and 13-time PGA Tour champion, also played at Stadium, adding 11 strokes but finishing third (-23), behind Burns. "I didn't think I'd have to compete against such a formidable college student. Shooting 60 strokes is terrifying," Thomas said with a smile, commenting on Dunlap's performance in the penultimate round.

If Dunlap finishes first, he will not receive the $1.512 million prize money because he is still an amateur. However, in that case, he will receive a full PGA Tour pass until 2026 once he turns professional within the stipulated timeframe. If he remains an amateur, he is limited to a maximum of 12 tournaments per season, as the PGA Tour currently packages tournaments into a business year starting in 2024.

At The American Express this year, Dunlap is an exception because the event, which normally reserves eight sponsor-nominated spots, rarely gives that privilege to amateur golfers.

However, tournament director Pat McCabe said Dunlap was the right choice for the roster. "I think outstanding talent like him deserves the opportunity to compete with PGA Tour golfers."

Dunlap is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. He is the winner of the 2023 US Amateur and the 2021 US Junior Amateur. In the history of American golf, only Tiger Woods and Dunlap have won both the open and junior amateur tournaments organized by the National Golf Association.

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