CNN —America’s newest golf sensation Nick Dunlap announced he is turning professional Thursday, just four days after missing out on a $1.5 million payday due to his amateur status.
The University of Alabama sophomore announced his intention to accept PGA Tour membership at a press conference staged on campus, having become the first amateur to win on the tour in over three decades with triumph at The American Express on Sunday.
“It was the easiest, hardest decision that I’ve ever had to make,” Dunlap said Thursday.
“I was very fortunate that everyone had the same opinion about it, and my teammates were awesome and very supportive.
Yet his shock victory secured him none of the $8.4 million prize purse due to his amateur status, with the $1.512 million winner’s cut instead going to South African runner-up Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who finished a stroke behind.
Persons:
Nick Dunlap, I’ve, ” Dunlap, “, Charlene, Jim, Isabella Ellis, Jay Seawell, Orlando Ramirez, Dunlap, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Organizations:
CNN, University of Alabama, PGA, American Express, US Amateur, Getty, week’s Farmers Insurance, PGA Championship, Tour
Locations:
La Quinta , California, Alabama