• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
First amateur to win on PGA Tour for 33 years won't receive a penny of his seven-figure prize money

Home> Golf

Published 13:06 22 Jan 2024 GMT

First amateur to win on PGA Tour for 33 years won't receive a penny of his seven-figure prize money

This hasn't been achieved since 1991.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

A 20-year-old student has become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991 - but he won't receive the competition's seven-figure prize sum.

Nick Dunlap won The American Express title in La Quinta, California, on Sunday after a one-shot win over Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Dunlap, who brought his homework with him to complete between rounds, is the youngest amateur winner on the PGA Tour since 1910.

Advert

He's in esteemed company. Dunlap is the youngest amateur winner since three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson 33 years ago.

When asked about his future immediately after the win, the University of Alabama student told reporters: "I have no idea, I really don't. It's really cool to have that opportunity in the first place.

"Starting the week, if you would have said, 'hey, in five days you're going to have a PGA Tour card…' I would have looked at you sideways.

Advert

"But that's something that it doesn't just affect me.

"It affects a lot of people - coach back there, and my teammates - and it's a conversation I need to have with a lot of people before I make that decision."

Dunlap posing with the trophy alongside his parents. (Image
Getty)

Winners of the American Express title usually get to take home the cool sum of $1.5 million (£1.2 million), but Dunlap won't receive any of that due to his amateur status.

Advert

Per the United States Golf Association (USGA), Rule 3.1 - 'Playing for Prize Money', states: "An amateur golfer cannot play for money in a golf match, exhibition or other competition such as a tournament.

"The USGA enforces the rule to maintain a clear distinction between amateur golfers and professionals. The USGA offers one exception to the rule:

"Amateurs can keep prize money for winning a hole-in-one contest during the course of a tournament. But the amateur cannot accept money for winning the tournament overall."

Dunlap can now apply for his tour card. (Image
Getty)

Advert

156 players took part in the early season 'West Coast Swing' and Dunlap was the only amateur involved.

He admitted he was the most nervous he's been in his young career. Dunlap added: "Just tried to breathe, but also look up and enjoy it a little bit.

"I probably had a thousand different scenarios in my head of how today was going to go, and it went nothing like I expected. I think that was the cool part about it. That's golf."

Featured Image Credit: PGA/Twitter & Getty Images

Topics: Golf

Daniel Marland
Daniel Marland

Daniel is a social editor for SPORTbible after moving from the writing team. Nearly scored past Stormzy at Old Trafford once.

X

@DanMarland_

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Tommy Fleetwood faces losing over half of £7million prize money after winning Tour Championship
  • PGA Tour chief's staggering salary leaked online and only one golfer took home more money than him in 2024
  • The staggering amount of prize money the Masters 2025 winner will receive as 'record' payout expected
  • PGA Tour golfer handed ban on the eve of The Open over disgraceful incident

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
2 days ago
15 days ago
23 days ago
  • Getty
    4 hours ago

    Only Five Players Have Ever Hit Golf’s Rarest Shot Not Even Tiger Woods Managed

    A hole-in-one is one of the toughest shots in golf

    Golf
  • Getty
    2 days ago

    Donald Trump Demanded Man Be ‘Deported’ After Golf Course Incident

    US President Donald Trump is a keen golfer.

    Golf
  • Getty
    15 days ago

    Rory McIlroy Left 'Disappointed' by Player He Tipped to Be Golf's Next Big Thing

    The five-time major winner has spoken out about the young Northern Irish star tipped to succeed him.

    Golf
  • Kai Trump
    23 days ago

    Donald Trump Responds to ‘Awkward’ Barron Rumour While on Golf Trip

    Donald Trump responded to the rumour about his son Barron, who is 19 and attends NYU in Washington, D.C.

    Golf