Alabama Golfer Makes History, Nick Saban's Golf Partner
News Staff • January 22, 2024
Friend of Nick Saban becomes first amateur to win PGA Tour event in 33 years
Nick Dunlap, a native of Huntsville and a sophomore on the Alabama Crimson Tide men's golf team, won The American Express by one stroke on Sunday.
Dunlap, 20, became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years since Phil Mickelson. Dunlap, the 20-year-old University of Alabama sophomore and reigning U.S. Amateur champion
Nick Dunlap is also Nick Saban's favorite golf partner. During the tournament, Saban took time out of his recent retirement to comment to the Golf Channel and Dunlap's game:
Former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban said during a phone interview on the Golf Channel during the final round on Sunday that he noticed during his interactions with Dunlap on campus that he has the right attitude to be successful in the game.
"It’s no surprise to me because he’s got a great work ethic. He’s a great person, pays attention to detail. He’s really a dedicated guy. He’s a hard worker. He’s got the right disposition to play. He doesn’t seem to get flustered about anything. Golf is kind of a metaphor for life. You’ve got to be able to play the next shot whether you’re in the hazard, whether you hit a good one. You’ve got to have the right disposition to play it and I certainly think he has it," Saban said.
He’s only the seventh amateur since 1945 — and the third since 1957 — to win a tour event. In just his fourth tour event, Dunlap also became the youngest amateur to win on the tour since 1910. Dunlap was the only amateur in the 156-person field in the tournament long known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic. He surged into a three-shot lead with a amazing 60 in the third round.
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