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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

It has finally happened! After a successful run at the 2024 AmEx, fans were keenly following Nick Dunlap. The amateur golfer shocked the world by becoming the winner, surpassing even the likes of Tiger Woods. However, he missed out on the $1.5 million prize just because of his amateur status.

Well, that has changed as Nick Dunlap has announced he’s turning pro! In the recent X post from the PGA Tour, they revealed the 20-year-old accepted his PGA Tour membership. The announcement came at a press conference on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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“It was the easiest, hardest decision that I’ve ever had to make,” Dunlap said about turning pro. This has granted him access to play at PGA Tour events. However, this news also means the 2024 AmEx winner has snubbed all rumors that claimed he would be moving to LIV Golf.

Read More: ‘Comes Off Really Cocky’: Tiger Woods Inspired Nick Dunlap Boldly Confesses His True LIV Golf Emotions Amid Future Concerns

He is currently a sophomore at the University of Alabama, studying finance. Dunlap revealed that after his AmEx win, he went back and talked about turning pro with his friends and family. He stated that he was lucky that they all had the same opinion as him. Now with his new PGA Tour pro status, the 20-year-old is preparing for his next event.

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Where will Nick Dunlap play next?

After becoming a pro, the 20-year-old is set to debut professionally at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on February 1-4. Nick Dunlap has the advantage of choosing his schedule going into the PGA Tour. “The opportunity to pick and choose your schedule on the PGA Tour is unbelievable,” Dunlap said.

With his 2024 AmEx win, he is exempt from all PGAT events until 2026. Furthermore, he is also exempt from playing in three of 2024’s majors: the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship. But he can earn his way now to the Open Championship by improving his OWGR position.

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He currently sits in the 68th spot after surpassing many LIV Golf players in the ranking. If the 20-year-old can get into the top 50, he will automatically qualify for the Open. With a successful career as an amateur golfer, the fans will be keenly watching the professional run of Nick Dunlap.

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