If you’ve been following the American Express golf tournament closely, you may have noticed that Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old amateur and sophomore at the University of Alabama, is currently leading after 54 holes. This has raised a logical question among many fans and followers: What happens to the money if Dunlap emerges as the champion?
It is important to note that as an amateur, Dunlap is not allowed to collect any prize money at this week’s event. Therefore, regardless of his final position after the Sunday’s final round, he will not receive any monetary reward or have the option to retroactively declare himself a professional and claim the first-place check worth $1,512,000.
Now, you might wonder, where does that prize money go if Dunlap cannot take it? The answer is quite simple: it gets distributed among the other players as if he didn’t exist. In other words, if, for example, player Sam Burns finishes alone in second place, he would receive the entire first-place prize money as his own. This principle applies to all finishing positions.
In the event of a tie for second place, such as between Burns and Patrick Cantlay, the first- and second-place prize money would be combined and divided equally between the tied players. There would be no playoff to determine a solo first-place money winner in such cases.
This same principle applies to Nick Dunlap as well. If he finishes in fifth place, the sixth-place finisher would take the fifth-place money, and so on. The money simply cascades down the leaderboard accordingly.
However, it is important to note that the distribution of FedEx Cup points does not follow the same pattern as the prize money. If Dunlap were to win the tournament and Burns were to finish second, Burns would receive second-place FedEx Cup points (300), while no player would receive the 500 points awarded to the champion.
Another aspect to consider for Dunlap is the privileges that come with winning the event. As an amateur, he does not gain the benefits that a professional winner would be entitled to. This includes entrance into the rest of the season’s full-field PGA events and a two-year exemption on the tour.
However, if Dunlap were to turn pro at any point during the year, he would then be eligible for these benefits. For instance, if he were to make the decision to turn professional in May, he would be eligible to compete in all the full-field PGA Tour events for the remainder of the season, provided he secures a victory at the American Express.
In conclusion, if amateur Nick Dunlap emerges as the champion at the American Express, he will not receive any prize money due to his amateur status. The prize money would be distributed among the other players as if he didn’t exist. Furthermore, the distribution of FedEx Cup points would not trickle down, and the privileges associated with winning the event would only be available if Dunlap decides to turn professional in the future.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Can Nick Dunlap collect any prize money if he wins the American Express?
No, as an amateur, Dunlap is not allowed to collect any prize money at the event.
What happens to the prize money if Dunlap wins?
The prize money would be distributed among the other players as if Dunlap didn’t exist.
Will the distribution of FedEx Cup points be affected by Dunlap’s status as an amateur?
No, the distribution of FedEx Cup points does not follow the same pattern as the prize money.
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