Nick Dunlap Foregoes Remaining College Eligibility, Accepts PGA TOUR Membership
1/25/2024 12:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
Dunlap will compete in his first PGA TOUR event as a professional in next weekend’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama sophomore men's golfer Nick Dunlap, who became the first amateur in 33 years to win a PGA Tour event, announced Thursday morning at a press conference that he will forego his remaining college eligibility and immediately join the PGA TOUR. Dunap's first PGA TOUR event will come at next weekend's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Dunlap made the decision less than a week after winning The American Express tournament (Jan. 21). In doing so, he became the first player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Amateur and a PGA TOUR event while still an amateur and is the second-youngest TOUR winner since World War II (behind only Jordan Spieth).
By accepting a PGA TOUR membership, Dunlap will be exempt or the season's remaining signature events, three major events (The Masters, U.S. Open and the PGA Championship), THE PLAYERS Championship and all Full-Field Events in 2024.
An amateur no more! Congratulations, Nick! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/DTpbceJPPL
— Alabama Men's Golf (@AlabamaMGolf) January 25, 2024
Nick Dunlap Comments
"It was the easiest, hardest decision that I've ever had to make. 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."
Nick Dunlap Career Highlights
- Leaves Alabama after finishing the fall season as the No. 1-ranked golfer in college golf and is currently rated the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world according to the Official World Amateur Golf Ranking
- Secured his PGA TOUR card through the 2026 season with last weekend's victory
- First amateur since 1991 to win on the PGA TOUR, becoming the 2023 The American Express Champion with a 29-under par 259 (64-65-60-70)
- Second Alabama golfer in program history to win the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, joining Tiger Woods as the second golfer in history to win both the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur titles
- Captured consecutive major championships in the 61st Northeast Amateur and the 123rd North & South Amateur
- Named to the Fred Haskins Award Watch List after ending the fall season ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the nation
- Competed for Team USA at the Walker Cup and President's Cup over the summer, helping the US bring home trophies in each event
- Carded four consecutive rounds in the 60s to lead all USA golfers with a second-place individual finish and secure a team championship for Team USA at the World Amateur Team Championship in October
- Leaving as the leading Crimson Tide golfer in career overall stroke average, averaging 69.76 strokes per round and a -1.51 average vs. par across his 45 rounds played
- Secured two Alabama tournament victories across his time at Alabama
- Named to the 2023 PING All-American Second Team and PING Southeast All-District
- Tabbed to the 2023 All-SEC First Team and named the 2023 SEC All-Freshman
- Named to the SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll (2023)
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Players Mentioned
