Golfer Nick Dunlap announced on Thursday he will leave the University of Alabama and turn professional. Dunlap told reporters at a news conference in Tuscaloosa, Ala. that “it was the easiest, hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, by far.”

Dunlap, 20, will no longer play for Alabama amid his sophomore season, instead join the PGA Tour as a full-time member. He was the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur champion. He also won the 2023 U.S. Amateur title in August, becoming just the second golfer in history to win both crowns (Tiger Woods won both titles three times before turning professional in 1996).

On Sunday, Dunlap became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years, following Phil Mickelson’s victory at the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. He carded a four-round score of 29-under par to edge second-place Christiaan Bezuidenhout by one stroke at the American Express, held in La Quinta, Calif. However, due to his amateur status he was ineligible to collect a $1.5 million first-place prize and 500 FedEx Cup points. Bezuidenhout, a 29-year-old professional, collected the $1.5 million. Dunlap said Thursday: “I said it out there, if you [asked]: ‘Would you take the prize money or playing on the PGA Tour?’ I’d say play on the PGA Tour every time.”

Dunlap, who is the youngest player on tour, will make his professional debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from Feb. 1 to 4 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif. His victory Sunday granted him the offer of full PGA Tour membership through 2026. Dunlap will also receive placement in the Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship and U.S. Open. He played in the 2022 U.S. Open, where he also missed the third-round cut.

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