Nick Dunlap returns to the American Express as the defending champion

January 15, 2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Nick Dunlap (USGA Photo)

Dunlap won the event last year to become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 30 years

One year after his life-changing win at the American Express, Nick Dunlap will return to the site as a two-time professional winner.

Last January, Dunlap became an American Express champion, the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson conquered the Northern Telecom in Arizona in 1991.

He became the first amateur in three decades to win on the PGA TOUR and the second-youngest winner in the last 90 years. The only younger winner on Tour in the last 90 years was Jordan Spieth at the 2013 John Deere Classic.

He also won the 2024 Barracuda Championship for his first win as a professional. In the Stableford format tournament, Dunlap put together a remarkable final round, recording 19 points in the final round to propel 27 spots up the leaderboard and chase down the leaders.

Dunlap had seven birdies and an eagle to shoot a 9-under 62. He recorded 12, 7, 11, and 19 points through the four rounds to get to 49 points and win by two shots over Vince Whaley.

Along with Tiger Woods, he is one of two men to win the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur. He broke a 33-year streak when he won on the PGA Tour as an amateur. That puts him next to Phil Mickelson, who won the 1991 Northern Telecom Open, and Tiger Woods in the record books.

In the summer of 2023, Dunlap also won the Northeast Amateur and the North & South Amateur, both Elite Amateur Series events. He was also a member of the winning Walker Cup team at St. Andrews.

Most recently, Dunlap teed it up at the Hero World Challenge.

"To be in the Bahamas when I should be a junior in college is unbelievable, and I definitely don't take it for granted," Dunlap told the PGA Tour in December before the Hero World Challenge.

He will play with Sam Burns and Tony Finau this week.

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