Amateur Golfer Faces Historic Opportunity on PGA Tour

American Nick Dunlap has a great chance to become the first amateur golfer to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years, when he scored -27 and led by three strokes after round 3 of The American Express 2024.

Since 1945, only seven amateur golfers have won a PGA Tour event. Phil Mickelson was the most recent, at the 1991 Tucson Open at the age of 20.

Now, Dunlap, also 20 years old, has a chance to repeat that feat at The American Express 2024. The tournament takes place on three par-72 courses in California: Laquinta Country Club, Stadium and Nicklaus Course at the PGA West complex.

Dunlap was the only amateur in the initial field of 156 golfers. However, he was close to the top of the leaderboard when he finished the second round at Stadium, finishing T3 at -15, with Sam Burns leading at -17.

In the third round on January 20, Dunlap went to La Quinta and raised his score to -27 thanks to 10 birdies and an eagle on hole 6 from a long putt.

Dunlap celebrates after scoring a hole-in-one during round 3 of The American Express on January 20. Photo: X / theamexgolf — Dunlap celebrates after scoring a hole-in-one during round 3 of The American Express on January 20. Photo: *X / theamexgolf*

Burns, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, played Stadium for seven more points and had to give up the lead to Dunlap.

Justin Thomas - the owner of two majors and 13 PGA Tour cups also played at Stadium, added 11 points but finished third (-23), behind Burns. "I didn't think I'd have to compete with a formidable student like that. Shooting 60 is scary," Thomas smiled, when commenting on Dunlap in the penultimate round.

If he wins, Dunlap will not receive the $1.512 million prize, because he is still an amateur. But in that case, he will have a full PGA Tour card through 2026 once he turns pro within the time limit. If he remains an amateur, he will only be allowed to play a maximum of 12 tournaments per season, which the PGA Tour currently packages for the 2024 calendar year.

At The American Express this year, Dunlap is an exception because the event, which normally reserves eight sponsor-nominated spots, rarely gives that privilege to amateur golfers.

However, tournament director Pat McCabe said Dunlap was the right choice for the roster. "I think outstanding talent like him deserves the opportunity to compete with PGA Tour golfers."

Dunlap is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. He is the 2023 US Amateur and 2021 US Junior Amateur champion. In the history of American golf, only Tiger Woods and Dunlap have won both the Open and Junior Amateur championships hosted by the US Golf Association.

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