NASSAU, Bahamas – Nick Dunlap should be a junior at the University of Alabama, prepping for a run at a national title but instead he’s a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, the favorite to win the Arnold Palmer Award for Rookie of the Year and a sponsor exemption into the 20-man field this week at the 2024 Hero World Challenge at Albany Club.
“A whirlwind,” the 20-year-old said during a pre-tournament press conference in summarizing his year. “Just to be sitting here at his tournament and 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’s life changed when he won The American Express in late January, becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991 and just the third to do so since 1957. He turned pro shortly thereafter and validated the decision with another trophy after carding seven birdies and an eagle in his final round at the Barracuda Championship, his first win as a pro.
The scoring book of Nick Dunlap at the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“Eight months ago I was sitting at a table with all my teammates playing college golf. The world’s come at me a little quick…you know, a lot of learning, ups and downs, but I’ve seen some really, really cool places and I’m getting to compete against the best players in the world week in and week out and it’s an honor,” said Dunlap, who teed off in the first round at 11:41 a.m. ET alongside Sam Burns.
This week, Dunlap is staying with another former Alabama standout, Justin Thomas, who made his own headlines as a prodigy when he played his first Tour event at age 16 in the 2009 Wyndham Championship.
HERO: Leaderboard | Photos
“It was weird talking to him last night asking what he was going to do for his 21st birthday, that hasn’t happened yet,” said Thomas, who has sprinkled in some big brother advice along the way. “I wish there are things I would have known at that age that just would have been helpful. Like anybody that I’m friendly with at that age, I want to be a resource and help if I can. But it’s not my place to barge in, but to kind of know I’m here type thing. It’s totally different, but it’s not harder than it needs to be, right? It’s just golf and you’re still trying to beat everybody, it’s just at a different level.”
Dunlap and tournament host Tiger Woods share an interesting claim to fame –…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golfweek…