Nick Dunlap has announced he will turn professional and play on the PGA Tour this season after his remarkable history-making victory as an amateur at The American Express last weekend.
The University of Alabama sophomore held an emotional press conference on Thursday after stunning the golf world at PGA West near Palm Springs, California over the weekend. He held off a star-laden chasing pack including Justin Thomas, Sam Burns and Xander Schauffele to become the first amateur winner on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Dunlap enjoyed a hugely successful amateur career, becoming only the second player to win the US Amateur and US Junior Amateur championships, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods. But his stunning win on Sunday left him with a complicated decision to make on his future.
Ultimately, the offer of a two-year exemption to play on the PGA Tour as a result of his victory was too good to turn down, leaving the collegiate scene behind. Dunlap will make his debut as a PGA Tour member at Pebble Beach for the AT&T Pro-AM, which starts on February 1.
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The 20-year-old will also play in The Masters, the US Open and the PGA Championship, plus the remaining signature events on the PGA Tour including The Players at TPC Sawgrass in March. But leaving Alabama behind was no easy decision for Dunlap, who was born and raised in the state, and he paid tribute to the school, coach Jay Seawell and his loved ones in a tearful press conference.
"First of all, I want to say that choosing the University of Alabama is the greatest decision I've ever made," he said. "I've grown as a person, as a player since Coach Seawell first recruited me. I was a little s***, I'm not going to lie, but I've learned a lot and I'm very grateful for my team here. I couldn't be happier with where I decided to come.
Dunlop beat Christiaan Bezuidenhout by one stroke to win The American Express. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"My parents, through all the ups and downs have always been there, whether that's driving through the night to see me play golf or getting up early. I'm kind of first starting to understand how expensive golf is, so thank you."
He continued, wiping tears from his eyes with his sleeve: "Coach Seawell, we've been through a lot. I didn't want to play for anyone else. Hopefully, I've represented Alabama golf well. To my teammates, being your teammate has been a blast for me.
"At this time, I do want to announce that I am turning professional. I'm accepting my membership and I'm going to debut at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am. It's an incredible opportunity and I'm very grateful for it."
Dunlap was due to play at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, which started on Wednesday, under a sponsor's exemption as an amateur, but he withdrew to celebrate his victory with friends and family. After jumping from 4,129 to 68 in the Official Golf World Ranking, Dunlap will be among the main attractions at the picturesque Pebble Beach, a fitting venue to begin his professional career.
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