Nick Dunlap turns professional after making PGA Tour history
Nick Dunlap has taken the plunge and turned professional after becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years…
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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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
