Nick Dunlap was supposed to be a sophomore at the University of Alabama this year, but that all changed when he won The American Express in January, the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991 (Phil Mickelson/Northern Telecom Open). Just like that he turned pro and he wasn’t done yet.
“I’m 20 years old and I’m living out my dream,” he said of his rookie campaign.
On Thursday, the PGA Tour today announced Dunlap won the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2024 season. Dunlap, who added a second win in July at the Barracuda Championship to become the first player in Tour history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same season, is the youngest player to be named Rookie of the Year since Jordan Spieth in 2013.
“Nick carved out his place in the PGA Tour record book. To begin 2024 as a collegiate golfer and end it with two PGA Tour victories and among the top-50 players in the FedEx Cup is truly impressive,” said Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
Rookie of the Year is determined by a member vote, with Tour members who played in at least 15 events during the 2024 season eligible to vote. The voting period ran from November 25 through December 4. Dunlap received 57 percent of the vote for the Arnold Palmer Award and was selected over three other nominees: Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp and Matthieu Pavon.
“It’s pretty special,” Dunlap said. “Eight months ago I was sitting at a table with all my teammates playing college golf.”
Starting the year as a sophomore at the University of Alabama, Dunlap won The American Express in January, becoming the first Dunlap recorded a 60 in the third round to hold a three-shot lead in his fourth Tour start and went on to win by one shot. Four days after the victory, Dunlap announced his decision to turn professional and subsequently joined the Tour, making his professional debut the following week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Dunlap ended his amateur career as the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He won the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 2023 U.S. Amateur, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to win each title.
At the age of 20 years, 11 months, 12 days, Dunlap is the second-youngest player to be named Rookie of the Year behind Jordan Spieth, who received the 2013 award at the age of 20 years, 2 months.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey and very grateful that it happened when it happened,” Dunlap said at the Hero World Challenge. “I’ve learned way more the past year than I would have being in college.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nick Dunlap named PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Rookie of the Year
