Nick Dunlap is turning professional just days after becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991.
The PGA Tour has announced Dunlap has joined its membership and is exempt through 2026 after winning The American Express.
The 20-year-old, who is now the tour’s youngest member, has an exciting year ahead with exemptions in the seven remaining Signature Events and three of the four majors.
After winning in La Quinta, Dunlap became the World No.1 amateur for the first time, leapfrogging Christo Lamprecht and Gordon Sargent into the top spot.
As just a sophomore at the University of Alabama, Dunalp became the second-youngest player to win on the PGA Tour since World War Two and the first reigning US Amateur champion to win on tour since Tiger Woods in 1996.
“It was the easiest, hardest decision that I’ve ever had to make,” Dunlap said.
“I was very fortunate that everyone had the same opinion about it, and my teammates were awesome and very supportive. It goes back to the family that Alabama has. They were very supportive and wanted me to chase my dreams.”
Dunlap propelled himself to 68th in the Official World Golf Rankings with his maiden victory on the US circuit and earlier this week, he withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open after what he described as “a life-changing 24 hours.”
As an amateur, Dunlap was unable to bank the $1.512 million awarded to first place in California last week which was passed on to runner-up Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
He also didn’t collect the 500 FedEx Cup points on offer and he won’t appear in the standings until he makes a cut on the tour. His first start as a professional is set to be the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
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