Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Scribbler
Nick Dunlap, the College of Alabama sophomore who on Sunday changed into the primary novice to win at the PGA Excursion in additional than 3 a long time, has withdrawn from the ground for this moment’s Farmers Insurance coverage Clear at Torrey Pines in L. a. Jolla, California.
“After a life changing last 24 hours, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open,” Dunlap stated Monday in a remark. “I plan to return home to Alabama to be with family, friends and teammates. Thank you to Farmers Insurance and American Express for giving me these opportunities.”
With his victory on the American Categorical in L. a. Quinta, California, Dunlap changed into the primary novice to win on excursion since Phil Mickelson on the 1991 Northern Telecom Championship. The 20-year-old is most effective the 5th novice to win on excursion since 1950 and the second-youngest champion within the year 90 years. Jordan Spieth gained the 2013 John Deere Vintage when he used to be 19.
As an novice, Dunlap forfeited the $1.5 million winner’s handbag and the five hundred FedEx Cup issues that got here with it.
Now, he should come to a decision whether or not to go back to Alabama for the rest of his moment collegiate season or fasten the PGA Excursion as a full-time member.
“I don’t know,” Dunlap stated next his par putt at the 72nd hollow gave him a 1-shot victory over South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout. “I have to take a second to let what just happened sink in a little bit. That’s a decision that’s not just about me. It affects a lot of people, and obviously I’m going to try to enjoy this. It’s a conversation I need to have with a lot of people before I make that decision.”
Discussions about Dunlap’s pace began Sunday night time. Through shooting the American Categorical, he earned full-time PGA Excursion club throughout the 2026 season. He can settle for that club till 30 days next this season ends. He earned complete exemptions of a pro winner, together with spots within the profitable signature-series occasions similar to later date’s AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am and the Gamers Championship, that have handbags of no less than $20 million.
“If this is what he decides to do, we support him because we’ve done our job,” Alabama tutor Jay Seawell instructed ESPN on Monday. “We’ve helped him, and he is a valuable part of our team and will be for the rest of his life. And if so, then we’ll move forward and we’ll support him in that. I’m going to let him make that decision with his family and all that. They’ve asked me to at least sit in on it, but in the end it will be their decision.”
Dunlap is a lifelong Alabama fan and enjoys competing along with his teammates, Seawell stated. Dunlap had objectives of well-known the Pink Current to an SEC name and nationwide championship. He may just nonetheless play games within the Masters, U.S. Clear and The Clear as an novice if he returns to college.
“He has a huge sense of team and you saw the reaction of our players,” Seawell stated. “They’re a very close group and leaving in the middle of a season I know would tear on him a little bit. He did have dreams when he came.”
Alabama senior Canon Claycomb stated he wouldn’t fault Dunlap for turning professional. Dunlap’s teammates had been calling him probably the most manage 50 gamers on the planet for the year a number of months, in keeping with Claycomb, next he changed into most effective the second one participant — Tiger Woods is the alternative — to win each the U.S. Youth Newbie and U.S. Newbie.
“I don’t think anybody on the team would blame him,” Claycomb stated. “We want Nick to do what the best thing for Nick is, and if that’s him turning pro, then that’s him turning pro. I know he loves the team, and I know he loves all of us, but it’s not about us in this moment. It’s about him and what he needs to do to be the best version of himself and to have the best opportunity to play on the PGA Tour for a long time.”
Alabama’s season resumes on the Watersound Invitational on Feb. 19. The crew used to be turning back campus Sunday from a tradition consultation in Orange Seaside, Alabama, once they pulled over to watch Dunlap make a 6-footer to win.
“We were on a back road,” Claycomb stated. “We pulled off in the middle-of-nowhere Alabama. We barely had Wi-Fi, barely could watch, but we pulled off to the side of the road and watched that final hole. It was awesome.”
PANDEMONIUM!
@NickDunlap62‘s successful past from within the @AlabamaMGolf crew bus! pic.twitter.com/sCBXCobMnr— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
Irrespective of what Dunlap comes to a decision, Seawell believes his superstar participant is greater than in a position for a full-time occupation at the PGA Excursion. Dunlap is the one participant to win the U.S. Youth Newbie, the U.S. Newbie and a PGA Excursion match as an novice. He carded an 11-under 59 and gained an area match via 13 photographs when he used to be 12. In 2021, he posted a 62 in a Monday qualifier to manufacture the ground in a Korn Ferry Excursion match.
“This wasn’t some kid who caught lightning in a bottle,” Seawell stated. “I think he’s going to be a historic figure in the game. I do. He’s already done things that most haven’t done, and I just think that’s who he is.
“If he remains wholesome and all of the issues that occur in athletics, I feel he might be … I don’t need to say Jack [Nicklaus] or Tiger, however he’s the primary individual I’ve ever perceptible which may be. I don’t need to put that more or less power on him, however I do assume he’s a man who I feel has the power and the mindset and the physicality to be historical on this recreation.”
