Former Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap collects prestigious PGA Tour honor

There are hot starts to a PGA Tour career, then there’s what former Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap did this season en route to being named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

Dunlap, who turned pro after winning The American Express in January, won the prestigious honor in golf on Thursday.

“On behalf of the PGA Tour, congratulations to Nick Dunlap on being named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. “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 FedExCup is truly impressive.”

Not only did Nick Dunlap win twice on tour, he did so in historic fashion. He became the first player in PGA Tour history to win as both an amateur and a professional in the same season.

At 20 years old, he also became the youngest player to be named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year since Jordan Spieth earned the honor back in 2013.

Nick Dunlap won the award thanks to a member vote, with PGA Tour members who played at least 15 events during the 2024 campaign eligible to vote.

Dunlap received 57 percent of the vote, according to the PGA Tour.

Of course, Nick Dunlap’s year began as an amateur college golfer at Alabama. But he played in and won The American Express, then shortly after announced his move to turn pro.

He would later go on to win the Barracuda Championship in July.

Because he played so well, Nick Dunlap finished in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings, qualifying him for the PGA Tour’s signature events in 2025.

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.