An amateur won on the PGA Tour for the first time in 33 years on Sunday.
In other words, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm, the last two Masters champions, had not yet been born when Phil Mickelson won the 1991 Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona, as a 20-year-old Arizona State student.
Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old Alabama sophomore and the defending U.S. Amateur champion, made a putt of nearly 6 feet to win the American Express by one shot over Christiaan Bezuidenhout at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California. Dunlap shot 60-70 on the weekend and won with a 29-under-par 259.
It’s the 72-hole tournament record since the event went from 90 holes to 72 holes in 2012.
Here are questions and answers in the aftermath of Dunlap’s victory:
Nick Dunlap reacts after winning the American Express at Pete Dye Stadium Course on January 21, 2024 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
No. Dunlap would have to have turned professional before the tournament began to take the money. But you’ve got to assume he’ll more than makeup for it with endorsement deals sure to fall his way.
Nick Dunlap lines up a putt with his caddie on the third green during the final round of The American Express golf tournament at PGA West Stadium Course. (Photo: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)
FedEx Cup points do not trickle down. When Dunlap won he received no points, but Christian Bezuidenhout got second-place FedEx Cup points (300) and no one received the 500 FedEx points that typically go to the champion.
Here’s more on how this shakes out.
Nick Dunlap plays his shot on the second hole during the final round of the 2024 American Express at PGA West Stadium Course in La Quinta, California. (Photo: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)
Yes. That means he can turn pro and start playing a PGA Tour schedule, which would include spots in the Masters, the Players Championship and the PGA Championship. He will have to turn pro to enter the Tour’s “Signature Events,” such as the Players. Notably, he was already in the 2024 Masters field by virtue of his U.S. Amateur victory last year.
Tiger Woods tips his hat to the gallery on his way to winning an unprecedented third consecutive U.S. Amateur championship in North Plains, Oregon, on Sunday, Aug. 25, 1996. Photo by Robin Loznak/Associated Press
That would be Tiger Woods, who won the third of his U.S. Amateur titles in 1996, then won twice that fall on the PGA Tour after turning pro.
Jordan Spieth reacts after winning the 2013 John Deere Classic
Not quite. Jordan Spieth has that distinction, for winning the 2013 John Deere Classic as a 19-year-old. Spieth turned pro before that event.
Scott Verplank reacts to missing his putt at No. 18 at the 2014 Franklin Templeton Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club.
Dunlap is the eighth amateur to win on the PGA Tour. Note the glut of amateur winners in 1945, possibly due to many of the pros serving in the military opening up more spots in the fields.