The American Specific champion Nick Dunlap has an enormous choice to make – to show professional or to not flip professional.
The primary novice to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991 is exempt on the PGA Tour by the 2026 season, so technically there’s no rush. But when he turns professional, he’s additionally exempt into the remaining seven signature occasions this season, a number of of that are restricted discipline, no-cut occasions with purses of not less than $20 million (in addition to The Sentry in 2025). It’s a no brainer for the Alabama sophomore, proper?
However when requested throughout his winner’s press convention if he can be accepting PGA Tour membership, Dunlap hesitated and the extra he spoke about it the extra conflicted he appeared.
“I don’t know,” he stated. “I actually don’t.”
Dunlap’s life has modified it doesn’t matter what he decides and he’s gained admission to a brand new world.
“Beginning the week, for those who would have stated, hey, in 5 days you’re going to have a PGA Tour card or a chance for 2 years, I might have checked out you sideways,” Dunlap stated.
I don’t assume he was being modest. And his subsequent assertion was telling. He famous that his choice has large ramifications not only for him.
“It impacts lots of people, (Alabama) coach (Jay Seawell) again there and my teammates, and it’s a dialog I have to have with lots of people earlier than I make that call,” he stated.
Congrats on the unbelievable victory at this time! @NickDunlap62 It’s fairly exhausting for me to not watch the NFL playoffs at this time, however I used to be glued to watching the American Specific Championship at this time. One in all three within the final 65 years! Find it irresistible!!
— Scott Verplank (@scottverplank) January 22, 2024
Later, he would specific a need to be ranked No. 1 within the World Beginner Golf Rankings and to win a hoop along with his Alabama teammates. Having already received the U.S. Junior Beginner and U.S. Beginner in 2023, he’s in Rose Zhang territory the place there’s actually nothing extra for him to attain within the novice recreation. Plus, Dunlap additionally has dreamed of profitable on the Tour for many of his life.
“As a child, you type of whack it round everywhere in the placing inexperienced and each putt’s for an opportunity to win, whether or not that’s a PGA Tour occasion, the Masters, the U.S. Open. And to have that putt, I took just a little bit longer than I usually may, and simply take within the second and nothing’s with no consideration. I could not ever have that probability once more, and I simply need to embrace it,” he stated. “You already know, like I stated, it might not ever occur once more.”
There may be, in fact, a wild card to be thought of in all of this. There’s little question that LIV Golf will circle with a profitable supply that can make him assume twice about whether or not he needs to attempt to win a hoop or have a checking account with Saudi-funded generational wealth.
Throughout a digital press convention I requested Dunlap if he or his representatives have been contacted by LIV, and if that’s the case, does he have any curiosity in competing within the league?
“As of proper now I don’t know, I actually don’t,” he stated.
He shared that he’s represented by GSE and agent Kevin Canning, who Dunlap stated labored a deal for Jason Kokrak to go to LIV. GSE additionally represents Bryson DeChambeau and quite a few of their clientele jumped to LIV for giant bucks.
“However so far as me, I’ve all the time grown up dreaming of enjoying on the PGA Tour, and making a putt identical to just a little bit in the past, to win a PGA Tour occasion. That was all the time my dream, to do this. I’ve all the time tried to chase one thing that no one else has achieved. That’s why I all the time put within the work that I do, I need to do one thing particular, and one thing memorable, not just for me, however possibly to go away one thing behind for anyone else to attempt to observe and gauge at,” Dunlap defined. “For me, that’s Tiger, proper. Like I in all probability received’t ever even be near a few of the information he set, however I all the time attempt to set myself, , I’m making an attempt to chase him. I do know that’s an especially excessive bar, and I don’t know if that comes off actually cocky or not, however for me that’s one thing, I take into account him the best ever, and for me to attempt to chase that, and even to be in considerably of a dialog with him is, like I had stated, it’s a dream come true, and it’s why I do what I do.”
Not that I anticipated him to return out and proclaim he had a contract again in his resort room that his lawyer was reviewing, however that feels like a reasonably exhausting no.
There was yet another telling remark which will point out whether or not he’s planning to remain in faculty as Phil Mickelson did after he received as an novice in 1991.
“You bought any homework to do tonight?” he was requested.
“Sure,” he stated. “In all probability received’t do it although.”
Spoken like a school child with professional aspirations. Apparently, Alabama’s switch portal should be open.
