Nick Dunlap was supposed to be a sophomore at the University of Alabama this year, but that all changed when he won the American Express in January, the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991 (Phil Mickelson/ Northern Telecom Open). Just like that, he turned professional and he wasn’t done yet.
“I’m 20 years old and I’m living my dream,” he said of his rookie campaign.
On Thursday, the PGA Tour announced today that Dunlap won the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year for the 2024 season. Dunlap, who added a second victory in July at the Barracuda Championship to become the first player in Tour history to win as an amateur and professional in the same season, is the youngest player to be named rookie of the year since Jordan Spieth in 2013.
“Nick has earned his place in the PGA Tour record books. To begin 2024 as a college golfer and end it with two PGA Tour victories and a top-50 FedEx Cup finish is truly impressive,” said Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
The Rookie of the Year is determined by a membership vote, with Tour members who have competed in at least 15 events during the 2024 season eligible to vote. The voting period ran from November 25 to December 4. Dunlap received 57 percent of the votes for the Arnold Palmer Award and was selected over three other nominees: Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp and Matthieu Pavon.
“It’s pretty special,” Dunlap said. “Eight months ago, I was sitting at a table with all my teammates playing college golf.”
Starting the year as a sophomore at the University of Alabama, Dunlap won the American Express in January, becoming the first Dunlap to record a 60 in the third round to hold a three-shot lead in his fourth start over the Tour and went on to win by one. shot. Four days after the victory, Dunlap announced his decision to turn professional and subsequently joined the Tour, making his professional debut the following week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Dunlap finished his amateur career as the No. 1 player in the world amateur golf rankings. He won the 2021 US Junior Amateur and the 2023 US Amateur, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to win each title.
At the age of 20 years and 11 months and 12 days, Dunlap is the second youngest player to be named Rookie of the Year behind Jordan Spieth, who received the 2013 award at the age of 20 years and 2 months.
“It’s been an incredible journey and I’m very grateful that it happened when it did,” Dunlap said at the Hero World Challenge. “I’ve learned a lot more in the last year than I would have if I was in college.”
This article was originally published on Golfweek: Nick Dunlap named PGA Tour rookie of the year Arnold Palmer
