Young Golf Sensation Nick Dunlap Withdraws from Farmers Insurance Open After Historic PGA Tour Win
In an astonishing turn of events, 20-year-old amateur golfer Nick Dunlap has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Farmers Insurance Open after his historic win at The American Express, where he became the youngest amateur to win a PGA Tour event since 1910.
Dunlap, an American sophomore, stunned the golfing world with his victory on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in his budding career.
His decision to take some well-deserved rest and return home follows the whirlwind of excitement and attention that accompanied his achievement.
“After a life-changing last 24 hours, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open. I plan to return home to Alabama to be with family, friends, and teammates.
Thank you to Farmers Insurance and American Express for giving me these opportunities,” Dunlap stated in a message sent via the PGA Tour on Monday.
The victory at The American Express adds to Dunlap’s impressive list of accomplishments, including his win in the US Amateur Championship last year.
Notably, he joined the ranks of golf legend Tiger Woods as the only players to triumph in both the US Amateur Championship and the US Junior Amateur Championship, which Dunlap secured in 2021.
Dunlap’s latest triumph qualifies him to turn professional at any point, with automatic membership through the 2026 season on the PGA Tour, as per PGATour.com.
When asked about the possibility of accelerating his journey to becoming a professional golfer, Dunlap expressed the need to savor the moment and take time to contemplate the decision.
“I don’t know. I’ve got to take a second to let what just happened sink in a little bit. That’s a decision that’s not just about me. It affects a lot of people, and right now, I’m just going to try to enjoy this,” Dunlap shared during an interview with PGA Tour Radio.
Despite making history by outplaying seasoned professionals, Dunlap couldn’t claim the first-place prize of $1,512,000 from Sunday’s win due to his amateur status.
The top prize went instead to runner-up Christiaan Bezuidenhout, while those who tied for third place were compensated as if they finished in a three-way tie for second place.
