Nick Dunlap made PGA Tour historical past Sunday, turning into the primary newbie in 33 years to win on tour by claiming The American Categorical in La Quinta, Calif. He trailed five-time tour winner and Ryder Cup vet Sam Burns on the again 9 earlier than rallying over the ultimate three holes to complete 29-under. Right here’s what you must know:
- Dunlap, 20, is a sophomore at Alabama. By turning into the primary participant since Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win on the PGA Tour earlier than turning skilled Dunlap has a two-year exemption into the tour’s largest occasions when he does determine to go away school golf. After successful the U.S. Newbie final 12 months he’s already eligible for all 4 majors in 2024.
- Dunlap and Burns have been tied going to the par-3 seventeenth, however Dunlap put his tee shot on the inexperienced and watched as Burns discovered water and ended up with double bogey.
- Dunlap shot a third-round 60 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead over Burns and 4 over Justin Thomas going into Sunday, then shot a 70 on Sunday to win the event.
What occurred
Dunlap had a three-stroke lead stepping to the par-4 seventh gap, which contains a compelled carry off the tee. Sadly, the newbie discovered water together with his first tee shot — he knew it immediately, letting the membership go in his backswing. He needed to drop, lay up and had a 15-footer for bogey that he couldn’t scare the cup on. When Burns birdied the identical gap it created a tie and allowed many of the remainder of the highest 10 to really feel like they have been again on this factor. Burns took the lead with birdies on 10 and 11.
So for many of the again 9 Sunday it appeared like Dunlap’s story was going to be of a younger participant with large promise arising only a bit quick towards an authorized star like Burns. However Dunlap’s father advised Golf Channel in an on-course interview that his son could have sufficient in him to get the lead again, and he was proper. A birdie on the par-5 sixteenth received Dunlap to 29-under and a tie with Burns, sending the duo (Thomas had fallen off the tempo) to No. 17 for a two-hole shootout. It didn’t take lengthy to discover a victor.
Birdie on 16 to tie the lead!
20-year-old newbie Nick Dunlap continues to impress.
@PGATOURU | @TheAmExGolf pic.twitter.com/7OZpzWhIUF— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 21, 2024
Burns, who had zero bogeys in his final 24 holes, missed the island inexperienced on Pete Dye’s Stadium Course proper, splashing into the water. He needed to take a drop, then two-putted to fall two off the lead. In the meantime, Dunlap appeared just like the vet find the inexperienced and two-putting for par.
Burns then put his tee shot on 18 into the water left of the green and doubled the outlet, ending tied for sixth.
Dunlap missed the green (a frequent incidence Sunday) however his method play was once more top-notch, staying proper and away from water. His second shot received him green-side, and his third rolled to inside six ft of the outlet. He dropped the putt into the cup, let go along with a fist pump, then hugged his caddy, household and girlfriend.
Christian Bezuidenhout completed second at 28-under after taking pictures a final-round 65.
What this implies for Dunlap
Right here’s the historical past half: Along with the tie with Mickelson, Dunlap can be the second-youngest individual to win on the PGA Tour since World Conflict II (Jordan Spieth is the primary) and the primary reigning U.S. Newbie champion since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win on the PGA Tour. Mickelson, Spieth and Tiger? Fairly good firm.
Nick Dunlap has an actual shot this weekend to be the following newbie to win a Tour occasion. This era of Aberg, Surratt, Sargent, Dunlap, and M.W. Lee are the youngest and most proficient group of gamers I’ve seen and can be a power for many years.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 20, 2024
Dunlap, who’s 20 years and 29 days previous, doesn’t have to show professional robotically to keep up the privileges of his win — although underneath his newbie standing, he has misplaced out on the $1.51 million earmarked for the winner of The American Categorical.
No matter when he removes the (a) from his title on leaderboards, Dunlap is a really huge deal who cemented his standing as a rising star in skilled golf this weekend. It was one factor to shoot 64-65-60 over the primary three days of the event, enjoying with a really small gallery following him. On Sunday he was with Burns and Thomas within the remaining group, with all that entails. Even when he wasn’t making putts and settling for pars over the primary 15 holes, he by no means appeared rattled, specializing in the self-belief strategies he has made a precedence in his spherical preparation.
“Hitting that ball within the water on 7 examined every part I had,” Dunlap advised The Golf Channel.
Required studying
(Prime picture of Nick Dunlap: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Pictures)
