Debutant Nick Dunlap Wins the 2024 American Express: Breaks 33-Year-Old Curse to Join Phil Mickelson’s List

The third event on the PGA Tour calendar showcased an exhilarating final day of golf! The 2024 American Express finally saw Nick Dunlap emerge as the champion after beating the likes of Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Xander Schauffele. Astonishingly, he did so by carding a final day’s score of 2 under 70, thereby beating the runner-up, Bezuidenhout, by 1 stroke. But there’s a catch. He’s not a professional on the circuit.

Anyhow, the golfer, over the four days of play, was able to register a score of 29 under 259 to clinch the trophy. Interestingly, this makes him the first amateur, following Phil Mickelson to rake in a win after 33 years on the men’s circuit. Moreover, his win comes as nothing shy of a historical moment, making him the second youngest amateur to win a PGA Tour event in 90 years.

Back in 1991, Mickelson had won the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona, as a 20-year-old amateur. Well, now the college sophomore has achieved a similar feat as the 53-year-old at La Quinta, albeit three decades later. But, despite all that, the question naturally arises: what would the American Express champ’s win provide him with?

Nick Dunlap clinches his first PGA Tour win

Dunlap marked his name on the annals of history books by holing a total of four birdies in the final round, cementing his place at the top of the table. However, his victory does not provide him with any FedEx Cup points or any winner’s cut of the $8.4 million. The money would be carried over to Bezuidenhout, who takes the winner’s cut while being awarded 300 FedEx points. What about the victor’s 500 points? It would not be allocated to the rest of the field, unfortunately.

But that doesn’t mean the amateur is left without any benefits. The golfer would be eligible for membership in the men’s circuit at any point during the current season. What’s more, his membership would extend for two years, until 2026. In the case of exemptions, the 20-year-old would be guaranteed access to every signature event in 2024, under the condition that he turns professional before the same, along with the Masters and the PGA Championship.

ALSO READ – ‘I’ve Enjoyed’: Nick Dunlap Shows No Concern for the ‘Amateur Curse’, Blissfully Ignores Typical Newbie Worries

It truly was a close-knit final day of play that managed to satiate the hunger of many fans in the community. The thrilling finish by Dunlap was the cherry on top of the icing that made it all the more special!

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