Nick Dunlap held his nerve and became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
The 20-year-old made a six-foot par putt on the final hole to win The American Express by one stroke over South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Because he is an amateur, the American will not earn any prize, leaving the $1.5 million (£1.2 million) winner’s cheque to Bezuidenhout.
“It’s so cool to be experiencing this as an amateur,” Dunlap added.
“Whether I made or missed that, if you had told me come Wednesday night that I had a putt to win this tournament, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Nick Dunlap held his nerve and became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Mickelson, a six-time major winner, commented on X: “What an incredible effort by Nick Dunlap. Congratulations on an incredible victory.”
Dunlap, who had missed the cut in his previous three PGA Tour tournaments, now has a two-year exemption and entrance into the Masters, the US PGA Championship, and The Players Championship.
His stock was already high before this surprising victory, as he became only the second player to win both the US Junior Amateur and US Amateur titles, following Tiger Woods last year.
His final round at La Quinta’s Pete Dye-designed Stadium course included a double-bogey six on the short par-four seventh, where he pushed an iron shot off the tee into a lake, erasing his three-shot overnight lead.
However, the University of Alabama student responded superbly, shooting three birdies in his next nine holes and closing with a two-under 70 to hold off a charging Bezuidenhout and become only the seventh amateur to win a PGA Tour event.
How Nick Dunlap Defied the Odds at the PGA Tour
The South African – who blasted a 138-yard wedge shot for an eagle two on the par-four 15th – also birdied the last in a seven-under 65 to set a clubhouse target of 28 under.
Dunlap, who had moved to 29 under with a birdie on the 16th, admitted he was uninformed of Bezuidenhout’s final-hole birdie and believed he had a two-shot lead as he stood over his second approach to the last.
His approach veered right and struck a spectator before resting a few yards off the green.
How Nick Dunlap Defied the Odds at the PGA Tour
He chipped up to six feet and sank the putt confidently after his caddie advised him, “It’s inside left; you’ve made a million of these before.”
When asked if becoming professional was the next logical step, he said, “I’m not sure. I need to take a second to process what just happened.
“That isn’t just a personal decision. It affects a lot of people, and I’m definitely going to try to appreciate it.”
SOURCE – (BBC)
