THE AMERICAN EXPRESS

January 20, 2024

Nick Dunlap

PGA WEST Pete Dye Stadium Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Pretty historic round. What was that experience like?

NICK DUNLAP: It was a blast. Honestly, like my caddie Hunter said it a million times today, there's no time like the present. I think it's easy -- the putter felt so good. Everything -- the hole looked like a funnel. You got a par-5 next hole, I'm going to do this and this. He did a really good job of keeping me settled and keeping me where I was. Ultimately, just kind of kept putting shots together and ended up with a pretty good round.

Q. Before we ask you a few more questions, can you give us a run through of the cliff notes of that round, any special highlights that happened? Long putts?

NICK DUNLAP: I made a lot of putts. The putter felt really good. I don't think I missed anything that I should have made, per se. Drove it well. Hit the irons really good. I don't have any negatives after that round. I did everything pretty well.

Q. You shot 59 as a 12 year old, you shot 60 in college. Now you've shot 60 on the PGA TOUR. What let you go so low? Why are you so good?

NICK DUNLAP: (Laughing). I appreciate that. Honestly, I play a course back home in Huntsville, I played there for about two years, it's very easy, it's kind of in front of you, but it teaches you how to break that barrier of 8-, 9-, 10-under and keeping it going. Especially out here, I was 15-under through two rounds, and I wasn't even, I was two back of the lead. So I think that kind of shows you, you have to keep your foot down out here. I think that kind of goes for all of professional golf. These guys are really, really good and it's fun to be out here competing with 'em.

Q. Did you think at 59 at any stage?

NICK DUNLAP: I did. On 17, I did. I ran it by, I wasn't leaving that one short. No -- and Hunter mentioned it on 18. He's like, let's go ahead and make this. So, no, I did.

Q. Yesterday you said you had some nerves, feeling a little bit nervous. Did you feel them early today, and did you, were the nerves like different later in the round?

NICK DUNLAP: Of course, yeah, I mean, I always have first tee jitters, doesn't matter what I'm playing in. No, it was, honestly, just cool just to see the support from this country club kind of come out and support me, and obviously playing with the head pro was kind of cool too. Definitely nervous, and kind of what I said yesterday, pressure's a privilege, and I'm fortunate to be in the spot that I'm in.

Q. Still got 18 holes to go, but what would winning on the PGA TOUR mean to you right now?

NICK DUNLAP: Gosh, I don't know that I can put it into words. I think it's easy to go there, but I think -- I don't know. It's going to be hard, it's going to be something that I haven't experienced yet, obviously, on the PGA TOUR. We've got a good game plan for that golf course, and just kind of go out there and do us and stay in the present, like Hunter says, and go from there.

Q. Speaking of experiences, what can you draw on from your victories at the U.S. Amateur and other high-level tournaments as a collegiate player and even a junior? What can you draw on that can help you tomorrow?

NICK DUNLAP: Helps a ton just being in that atmosphere. I think that some cool stuff the USGA gives you is to play in some of the majors, and play in the U.S. Open, and I think as a 18, 19-year-old it is a really cool experience for me. It was surreal and I really didn't know where I was at the time, but to experience that young, kind of in my late teens instead of when you turn professional is kind of really cool, and it's something they do that's really cool for juniors and amateurs.

Q. Do you think tomorrow it might be easier in a way, given --

NICK DUNLAP: No (laughing).

Q. Let me phrase it. There's a lot of low scores. Do you think it's easier knowing that you have to go low tomorrow to sort of stay in touch or others are going to have to go lower to catch you?

NICK DUNLAP: I think it's going to be hard either way. At least, looking at this place, like, it's supposed to be easy and guys are shooting low numbers, but you still have to go do it. It's still a golf course, and you still have to hit good shots. There's out of bounds everywhere. For tomorrow, there's a lot of water out there, and just kind of hit one good shot at a time and try to stack 'em and give myself a lot of good looks.

Q. Can you give us an idea of how you'll spend your time tonight, this evening, and then in the morning before you tee off? What will Nick Dunlap do?

NICK DUNLAP: Probably turn off my phone. My girlfriend just landed, so go hang out with her, do some laundry. I'm still trying to figure out this whole two weeks on the road laundry thing with the TOUR. So, I'll probably go do that, and get a nice dinner and try to get some sleep.

Q. Did you know she was coming in?

NICK DUNLAP: I did. She left around 3:30 this morning.

Q. What's her name?

NICK DUNLAP: Isabella Ellis.

Q. When you're on the driving range, have you found yourself seeking peaks at Justin Thomas or Scottie Scheffler or some other players?

NICK DUNLAP: Of course. I'm fortunate enough to, I haven't played with JT, but played with some guys back home who are TOUR players, and it's fun to learn from them. They have, obviously, been out here for a little while, and just to see how they navigate the practice rounds, and how they warm-up, kind of their preparation leading into the day or the tournament, it's fun for me to watch.

Q. Over these three rounds, when you're on the golf course, does it feel like regular golf that you play, or does it feel different because it's a PGA TOUR event?

NICK DUNLAP: No, it definitely feels different. The stage is obviously different, but at the end of the day it is still golf. There's a tee box, a flag, and a hole at the end of the hole. You try your best to get it in, in the least amount of shots possible. That's kind of all I got. Just try to give myself as many good looks at birdie as I can.

Q. Looks like tomorrow you're probably going to be paired with Justin Thomas.

NICK DUNLAP: That would be cool.

Q. Thoughts on that?

NICK DUNLAP: Really cool. Two Bama guys in the final group would be kind of cool. Hunter's, he played there at Alabama as well, so, and, unfortunately, Wilson had to back out with a back injury, but it was fun to play with him the first two days. To top it off playing with Justin should be a lot fun.

Q. Your caddies name is Hunter Hamrick?

NICK DUNLAP: Hamrick.

Q. And he used to play himself, didn't he?

NICK DUNLAP: He did, he played for eight, nine years, maybe. Played a little bit on the Korn Ferry Tour. I think he had maybe a dozen starts on the PGA TOUR, something like that. Pretty good player.