Nick Dunlap wins PGA Tour Rookie of the Year

Nick Dunlap has won the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year award.

Dunlap, 20, became the first player since Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur when he captured the title at The American Express in January. The then-reigning U.S. Amateur champ turned pro out of the University of Alabama the following week, and after a few rough months assimilating to the professional ranks, Dunlap won again in July, taking the title at the Barracuda Championship. It is the first time in PGA Tour history that a player won has an amateur and professional in the same year.

“Those first two or three months was, I didn’t really know where to go, what to expect, all the golf courses were new,” Dunlap said earlier this month at the Hero World Challenge. “I grew up, and still do, looking up to a lot of these guys and for them—for me watching them on TV and then quickly for them to become my peers was a little new.

“Just being more comfortable in my own skin and my own game and knowing that I don’t have to change anything, I just have to get better at a couple things to be able to compete out here. My good is good enough to win, but my bad isn’t where it needs to be yet to be able to perform the way I’d like to every week.”

Dunlap also finished T-5 in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, moving on to the BMW Championship to finish inside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings and earn a spot in next year’s signature events.

At 20 years, 11 months and 12 days old, Dunlap is the youngest Rookie of the Year winner since Jordan Spieth in 2013.

“Nick carved out his place in the PGA Tour record book,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “To begin 2024 as a collegiate golfer and end it with two victories and among the top-50 players in the FedExCup is truly impressive.”

Dunlap garnered 57 percent of the player vote, edging out Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp and Matthieu Pavon for the honor.