New PGA Tour Pro Nick Dunlap on Choosing Alabama: "Greatest Decision I've Ever Made"
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Standing before friends, coaches, and family, Alabama Crimson Tide golfer Nick Dunlap couldn't hold back the tears at the podium.
After all, how could you expect him to?
Within the span of five months, the 20-year-old Dunlap joined Tiger Woods as the only golfer to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur Championships, became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991 with his victory at The American Express on Sunday, and accomplished a lifelong dream of accepting his PGA Tour card—all while serving as a student in pursuit of a business degree at Alabama.
For Dunlap, the decision to turn pro wasn't an easy one. Saying goodbye to the everyday camaraderie built in Tuscaloosa was a pivotal factor in the Huntsville, Ala. native's choice, but in the end, the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage was simply too hard to reject.
"There's a lot of people that this affected, and one of the reasons I wanted to back out of [Farmer's Insurance Open] was to come back and talk with coach and my family and my teammates," Dunlap said. "I told them, they were the first people that I had told Tuesday, but this was the easiest, hardest decision I've ever had to make before. It was clear that I wanted to play professional golf and it was a golden opportunity to do that with what the PGA Tour has provided, but telling them was the hardest thing — that I was leaving mid year and I wasn't gonna get to play, you know, the rest of the season out with them. Obviously, I didn't plan on that, they didn't plan on that, and it's just unfortunately, it's part of life but like I said, I was given a really cool opportunity and wanted to try to chase that."
Despite the decision, Dunlap emphasized his connection to the university, acknowledging his personal and athletic growth during his time at Alabama and expressing gratitude to Crimson Tide golf head coach Jay Seawell.
"Choosing the University of Alabama is by far the greatest decision I've ever made," Dunlap said. "I've grown as a person as a player, when you know Coach Seawell first recruited me, who by the way, first coach to ever ever recruit me [...] but I learned a lot and I'm very grateful for my time here and you know, A.D. Byrne, University of Alabama, I couldn't be happier with with where I decided to come."
For Seawell, seeing players like Dunlap move on to greater challenges is what continues to drive him as an instructor.
"I've known him since he was 10 years old when he came to golf camp," Seawell said. "I've done his dreams, and I'm honored that he gave us the opportunity to coach him in all in to see him realize his dreams on that last hole [...] It's why we coach."
As Dunlap continues his pursuit of PGA Tour stardom, representing the state of Alabama with ties to three cities is something that he'll never take for granted.
"I grew up in Birmingham and grew up dreaming about coming to school here and playing golf for Coach Seawell,' Dunlap said. "He's obviously got an incredible reputation for for churning out thorough players and you know, I played with two just in the tournament last week with Willson Furr and Justin [Thomas], so to be able to do that and to represent Alabama and University of Alabama a little bit moving forward is something that I'll always hold very close to me, and that's why there's gonna be a script A on my bag forever."
When asked about former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban's supportive comments on Golf Channel during his final round, Dunlap made a note to point out his legendary status before concluding the day's press conference.
"It's pretty cool," Dunlap said. "I think everybody knows what Coach Saban has done for for Alabama and this university, but we get to spend a fair amount of time with him out at facility, and just the time he takes with us and the guys, it's really cool because we look at him as an icon, and he is. To have that come from him is really neat. And he called me after which was which was very special as well."
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