Former Alabama Crimson Tide star golfer Nick Dunlap has made some serious PGA Tour history with his victory over the weekend at the Barracuda Championship.
After securing the win, Dunlap becomes the first player in the entire history of the PGA Tour to win both as an amateur and a professional in the same season. Back in January, Dunlap won the American Express while playing on a sponsor’s exemption and became the first amateur to win on tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Shortly after his victory there, Dunlap elected to turn pro, where it has been an up and down season for him so far since. But he has now earned his second victory of the year and still is just 20-years old.
Dunlap would have been eligible for the $1.15 million prize money at the American Express, but was not allowed to collect due to his amateur status. This time around after winning as a pro, he will take home a cool $720k.
The winning interview after @NickDunlap62's come-from-behind victory @CudaChamp 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hD8veevAmP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 22, 2024
“I never even thought that was a possibility, to be honest with you,” Dunlap said after his come-from-behind victory. “I just gotta thank my team, they’re so supportive and after [the American Express], I kinda went through a little rough spell, and they’ve always had my back.”
Dunlap will continue to get better and ascend to the elite group of players on the planet as he gets more PGA Tour experience under his belt and sees what it takes to win at the highest level of golf on the planet.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
