- 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 greatest occasions when he does resolve to depart school golf. After successful the U.S. Beginner final yr 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 incorporates a compelled carry off the tee. Sadly, the novice 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 a lot 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 a lot of the again 9 Sunday it appeared like Dunlap’s story was going to be of a younger participant with great promise developing only a bit quick towards a licensed star like Burns. However Dunlap’s father advised Golf Channel in an on-course interview that his son may have sufficient in him to get the lead again, and he was proper. A birdie on the par-5 sixteenth bought 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 novice 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 seemed 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 opening, ending tied for sixth.
Dunlap missed the green (a frequent incidence Sunday) however his strategy play was once more top-notch, staying proper and away from water. His second shot bought him green-side, and his third rolled to inside six toes of the opening. He dropped the putt into the cup, let go together with a fist pump, then hugged his caddy, household and girlfriend.
Christian Bezuidenhout completed second at 28-under after capturing 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 particular person to win on the PGA Tour since World Battle II (Jordan Spieth is the primary) and the primary reigning U.S. Beginner 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 subsequent novice to win a Tour occasion. This technology of Aberg, Surratt, Sargent, Dunlap, and M.W. Lee are the youngest and most proficient group of gamers I’ve seen and might be a drive for many years.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 20, 2024
Dunlap, who’s 20 years and 29 days outdated, doesn’t have to show professional robotically to keep up the privileges of his win — although below his novice standing, he has misplaced out on the $1.51 million earmarked for the winner of The American Specific.
No matter when he removes the (a) from his title on leaderboards, Dunlap is a really large 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 last 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 seemed rattled, specializing in the self-belief methods he has made a precedence in his spherical preparation.
“Hitting that ball within the water on 7 examined the whole lot I had,” Dunlap advised The Golf Channel.
Required studying
(Prime photograph of Nick Dunlap: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Pictures)
