Nick Dunlap won The American Express PGA event, but got nothing for winning, why?
With a win at the American Express Tournament, Nick Dunlap should have won a hefty prize winning, but it is more complicated than that.
Nick Dunlap made history, becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson back in 1991. Dunlap is the youngest player to win since Mickelson and the second-youngest winner in over 90 years.
The University of Alabama sophomore pulled off a win that should have seen him get a fantastic leg up into the pro ranks, but due to his amateur status, he walked away with zero dollars.
The $8.4 million in prize money on offer at the American Express Tournament would see the winner stand to pocket $1.512 million.
WOW! 🏆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
20-year-old amateur Nick Dunlap is a PGA TOUR champion.
He's the youngest amateur to win since 1910. pic.twitter.com/DKQmK0fuAe
Dunlap, however, as an amateur, is prohibited from receiving any money, even if he declared himself professional immediately. By rule, entering the competition as an amateur precludes any payout.
Instead, all payments will cascade down, seeing number two finisher Christiaan Bezuidenhout get the first place prize rather than the $915,600 that second place offers.
Dunlap will have to make a decision over whether he wants to return to Alabama and continue to play as an amateur or if he wants to join the PGA tour as a pro. But no matter what he decides, that million and a half is already in the rearview mirror. His first decision has been to not accept the invitation to play in the Farmer Insurance Open this weekend.