The 65th edition of The American Express concluded Sunday, Jan. 21, at PGA WEST’s Stadium Course in La Quinta. University of Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap posted the tournament’s new 72-hole scoring record (29-under-par 259; 64-65-60-70) in becoming the eighth amateur golfer (since 1945) to win a PGA TOUR tournament.
Dunlap, the 2023 U.S. Amateur and 2021 Junior Amateur champion who is No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, made his fourth PGA TOUR start at The American Express, made his first PGA TOUR cut, and is the first amateur champion of a PGA TOUR event since 1991. At 20 years and 29 days, Dunlap is the youngest amateur to win on the PGA TOUR since Chick Evans at the 1910 Western Open (20 years, 1 month, 15 days). Dunlap’s third-round 60 (12-under) at La Quinta Country Club tied for the lowest round by an amateur in PGA TOUR history (tied with Patrick Cantlay / Round 2 of the 2011 Travelers Championship).
Christiaan Bezuidenhout placed second at 28-under 260. Since Dunlap is an amateur, Bezuidenhout received the $1,512,000 winner’s share from The American Express’ record $8.4 million purse, but he collected a second-place share of PGA TOUR FedExCup points (300 points) available for the tournament.
The American Express was the first tournament of the 2024 PGA TOUR regular season to take place in the continental United States, and the PGA TOUR’s only tournament which utilizes three courses in competition.
