Nick Dunlap’s year has been defined by highs and lows. He won the PGA Tour’s American Express in January, the first amateur to win on Tour since 1991, and turned pro in February. Then he endured some struggles adjusting to his new life but he recorded his second win of the season at the Barracuda Championship. Off the course, life has been a bit of an adjustment. That includes a messy dispute between Dunlap’s parents and his family lawyer and his agency, GSE Worldwide, and his day-to-day manager, Kevin Canning, who are mired in a legal dispute.
The claim, filed in March, said Canning told a potential client that Dunlap’s father, Jim, was a “drunk, controlling, alcoholic asshole” who is “too tough” on Nick Dunlap.
According to a story first reported by Sports Business Journal, “the family attorney, W. Scott Simpson, says Canning disparaged Dunlap’s parents, among other claims, while GSE’s lawyers have denied those allegations and in turn suggested Simpson helped fabricate those accusations in order to assert control over Dunlap’s business dealings. The family later maintained that many of Canning’s claims were not true.”
GSE inked Dunlap to a one-year contract in February. The sports management firm, whose clients include the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Sam Burns and 10 entrants in the 2024 Masters, had previously dealt with Dunlap’s NIL representation at Alabama.
“We began representing Nick Dunlap when he was a freshman in college and proudly negotiated a number of record-setting NIL deals on his behalf. We were honored when Nick announced his move into professional golf and acknowledged our role in his success,” GSE wrote in a statement sent to Golfweek.
Nick Dunlap gets hugs from his parents Jim and Charlene Dunlap after winning the 2024 American Express on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California. (Photo: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
SBJ reported that Canning handled his travel to tournaments and claimed he negotiated NIL deals with TaylorMade and Adidas during his days as a member of the Crimson Tide.
“In his first weeks as a professional, we secured Nick record-setting rookie deals for equipment, apparel and timepieces and commenced discussions for numerous additional opportunities,” GSE said in a statement. “It was highly unfortunate then, that Nick’s newly appointed personal advisors chose to cast baseless allegations in an attempt to keep GSE’s fees in connection…
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