The Masters can make or break even the best players on the PGA Tour, but one pro clearly struggled on the big stage and it prompted Rex Hoggard to make a big admission.
We all know Augusta National is one of the most special places on Earth, but it’s also an incredibly challenging course, both mentally and physically.
The toll of The Masters was clear to see in Rory McIlroy’s winning reaction. If the tournament can take so much from one of the game’s all-time greats, then you can imagine what it does to newer players on the tour.
We saw some top players shoot miserable rounds over the four days in Georgia this weekend, with the likes of Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Tony Finau all failing to even make the cut.
But, for Nick Dunlap, it was an especially torrid time at Augusta, with the former amateur registering an abysmal +17 over his two days.
Nick Dunlap shouldn’t have gone pro so soon
The 21-year-old had a startling rise to fame in 2024, after becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Mickelson’s victory way back in 1991.
Dunlap took the amateur circuit by storm before winning in The American Express last year to make PGA history. He then quickly went pro, as many expected, leaving behind his number one ranking in the amateur tour.
However, things have not gone to plan for Dunlap since then, and his opening round of 18 over par at The Masters on Thursday highlighted just how much he’s struggling right now.
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 72 |
| Score | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 90 |
Discussing the youngster’s predicament, Ryan Lavner said: “I thought it was a very interesting story earlier in the week with Nick Dunlap… to open with a 90 at The Masters. He rebounded with a 71. What did Nick Dunlap’s current plight tell you?”
Rex Hoggard admitted he was wrong about Dunlap last year, adding: “This pains me so much but you might have been right. I will go back to last year at the American Express where he won… And you said something along the lines of maybe he shouldn’t turn pro, he should stay at Alabama and enjoy that final year of college and then turn pro because he would still have had the exemptions.
“I remember barking at the top of my lungs and saying that is ridiculous. In the era we live in in professional golf you turn pro now and take advantage of all those starts in signature events and make the most of it, because there are plenty of players who would love to be in that position.
“Now fast forward a year and how many months since then and, yes, he has won since then but he has also struggled mightily.”
In fairness to Dunlap, he was commended by Robert Macintyre for his attitude. He even came out and talked very openly about his struggles and how difficult it has been to adapt to having pro status, which Hoggard clearly respected.
He added: “I will give him credit, because it is going to be a bigger conversation we have about media access to players and after that round on Friday he sort of let the world in to the struggles and the pain and how difficult this is and how haunting it is to try so hard to do something that you love and get absolutely nothing in return.
“I think it is a litmus test that young players are more prepared for the PGA Tour coming out of college now, we have touched on this time and time again. However, not all of them are, and maybe it would have served Nick Dunlap really well to send another year in Tuscaloosa to maybe mature a little bit and become more comfortable, because once you turn pro you are essentially on your own.”
Lavner echoed that sentiment, adding: “He won on the PGA Tour a couple of months later, after enduring a bit of a rough patch, but it is clear that he is in a very dark place. And all credit to him for speaking to the media at Augusta National. Got to be hoping he finds his way out, he is certainly an immense talent.”
Everyone in the game is rooting for Dunlap to pull through this, with Max Homa and Justin Rose offering advice to the young golfer already.
Nick Dunlap’s PGA Tour record this year
So far on the 2025 PGA Tour, Dunlap has played ten events and secured one top 10 finish (tied), at the Sony Open in Hawaii back in January.
Aside from that, though, his best finish was a tie for 17th place at the Genesis Invitational in February. He’s racked up four straight missed cuts over the last four events now, and really needs to pick up some form soon.
| Date | Event | Finish | Final score |
| 5th Jan | The Sentry | 55 | -7 |
| 12th Jan | Sony Open | T10 | -12 |
| 19th Jan | The American Express | T34 | -13 |
| 2nd Feb | Pebble Beach | T58 | -5 |
| 9th Feb | WM Phoenix Open | T57 | -4 |
| 16th Feb | Genesis Invitational | T17 | -3 |
| 9th Mar | Arnold Palmer Invitational | CUT | +10 |
| 16th Mar | The Players | CUT | +10 |
| 30th Mar | Texas Children’s | CUT | -2 |
| 13th Apr | The Masters | CUT | +17 |
To be fair to him, though, he has only ended up over par in three events this season, with a couple of 10-overs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship to add to his +17 at The Masters.
Dunlap was desperately unlucky to be cut at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, with a two-under still not enough to make it past the first two days.
There’s very obviously still a great player in there, with lots of potential. But, golf is a mentality sport, as we know very well, and Dunlap clearly isn’t in the right frame of mind right now.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
