Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old newbie golfer, made a historic transition from newbie to skilled within the span of 4 days after successful The American Categorical in La Quinta, Calif., turning into the primary newbie to assert victory on the PGA Tour in 33 years.
Dunlap, a sophomore on the College of Alabama, had gained the U.S. Beginner within the previous 12 months. His PGA Tour triumph secured a tour card by the 2026 season and fast exemptions into main occasions, together with the Masters, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship.
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Dunlap joined a distinguished group of amateurs who’ve gained PGA Tour occasions, a listing that features Phil Mickelson, who achieved the feat in 1991, and Cary Middlecoff, the primary newbie to win on Tour in 1945.
Examples of amateurs that turned professionals
Notable amongst these amateurs-turned-professionals is Frank Stranahan, dubbed the “Toledo Strongman,” who gained a number of PGA Tour occasions as an newbie and continued a profitable profession as a professional.
Gene Littler, generally known as “Gene the Machine,” gained the 1954 San Diego Open as an newbie and went on to safe 28 PGA Tour titles as knowledgeable, together with the 1961 U.S. Open. Equally, Doug Sanders gained the 1956 Canadian Open as an newbie earlier than claiming 19 PGA Tour titles in his skilled profession.
Scott Verplank, the 1984 U.S. Beginner champion, transitioned from a thriving newbie profession to a PGA Tour victory on the 1985 Western Open. Turning skilled in 1986, Verplank gained 4 further PGA Tour occasions, showcasing resilience regardless of coping with sort 1 diabetes.
Phil Mickelson, who turned professional in 1992 after successful the Northern Telecom Open as an newbie in 1991, went on to turn out to be one of the vital profitable golfers in historical past.
