Tour pros react to amateur’s shock PGA Tour win

Imagine being in the same company as Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Well, college student Nick Dunlap can say he is after winning on the PGA Tour as an amateur.

The 20-year-old became the first since Mickelson in 1991 when he hoisted the American Express trophy in California on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Dunlap – a sophomore at the University of Alabama – also becomes the first reigning U.S. Amateur champ to win on tour since Tiger Woods in 1996.

A six-foot par putt on the 72nd hole clinched the title, from Christiaan Bezuidenhout in second.

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“The script was already written,” Dunlap said after the win. That was a man who had missed the cut in his previous three events on the PGA Tour but now has a two-year exemption on the circuit.

The $1.5 million winner’s cheque went the way of the South African runner-up, but Dunlap earned entry to the Masters, the PGA Championship and The Players Championship, as well as some high-profile fans.

After joining the amateur PGA Tour winners club, Mickelson tweeted: “Such an impressive performance by Nick Dunlap. Congratulations on an incredible win. This is just the beginning.”

Such an impressive performance by Nick Dunlap. Congratulations on an incredible win. This is just the beginning 👍👍

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 22, 2024

Fellow LIV golfer Jon Rahm, who couldn’t defend his AmEx title, posted: “What an amazing accomplishment by Nick Dunlap, stellar play and way to pull through under pressure to join a very selective group of players to win PGA tour events as an amateur! Great future ahead of this great talent! Congratulations.”

PGA Tour pro Hudson Swafford won the event the previous year and said: “Unbelievable story in the desert! Congrats to Nick Dunlap and the American Express on a successful week.”

Alabama was the place to be, as Dunlap’s teammates celebrated the historic triumph in the team van. Canon Claycomb shared the moment on social media:

OH MY GOD HE DID IT. NICK DUNLAP I LOVE YOU. RMFT. 🐘❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/KF39rLloog

— Canon Claycomb (@canonclaycomb) January 22, 2024

Following the agonising defeat, Bezuidenhout said: “Yeah, it’s amazing.

“I heard his name last year when he won the U.S. Amateur. He’s obviously a hell of a player and congrats to him, hopefully he can be out on the PGA TOUR soon and we all get to play with him.”

Keith Mitchell, who finished T9, said before the final round: “I can’t even remotely picture myself out here in that position at his age, where he is, a sophomore in college.

“As a sophomore in college, there was no way I was even close to that, either capable or ready mentally or physically. It’s really impressive to see.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.