Tag: alabama golf

Former Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap named PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year

PGA Tour names former Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap as their 2024 Rookie of the Year.

At only 20 years of age, Nick Dunlap is the next big thing in United States golf. The former Alabama Crimson Tide standout burst onto the scene becoming only the second player to ever win the US Amateur Championship (2023) as well as the US Junior Am (2021) alongside the legend Tiger Woods.

Dunlap became a household name when he received a sponsor exemption to play in The American Express on the PGA Tour in January of 2024 and then won the whole Tournament. He became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event in 33 years. At just 20 years and 29 days old, Dunlap became the second-youngest winner on the PGA Tour in the past 90 years, behind Jordan Spieth, who won at 19 years and 352 days old. Dunlap then turned professional the following week.

Despite being the youngest player on the Tour, Dunlap was outstanding as a Rookie playing in 23 events (making 15 cuts) resulting in a pair of wins, four top 10 and seven top 25 finishes. As a result, the PGA Tour announced that Dunlap was the 2024 Arnold Palmer Award Rookie of the Year honoree.

Dunlap missed the cut at all three major events he attended in 2024 including the Master’s, however I believe he will be a name to keep an eye on in the coming years.

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Alabama golf shares updates, previews brand new facility

Alabama Golf’s new facilities are BEAUTIFUL.

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s golf social media accounts recently shared videos that show the new facilities, and the progress that’s been made on the grounds and new buildings.

The video shows the luxurious indoor amenities the team will have access to, as well as the newly-designed practice course that will help the team prepare for tournaments.

Alabama golf has two national team titles on the men’s side and one for the women. The Crimson Tide’s presence on the national golf scene continues to grow, and the updates to the facilities will surely help with preparation and recruiting.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama golf and athletics.

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Justin Thomas parts ways with caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay a week before The Masters

Just a week before the start of the 2024 Masters, Justin Thomas shockingly decides to part ways with his caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay.

Next Thursday, April 11, the 2024 edition of The Masters will be teeing off live from Augusta National in Georgia. This week, former Alabama Crimson Tide golfer [autotag]Justin Thomas[/autotag] made the shocking decision to part ways with legendary caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay ahead of the iconic tournament.

Mackay worked as the caddie for Phil Mickelson from 1992 until 2017 when they mutually parted ways. Mackay spent the next four years working as a commentator for NBC/Golf Channel, before returning to the sport in 2021 to caddie for Thomas.

At this moment in time, nobody knows exactly what led to the split between the No. 28 golfer in the world and his caddie, but the timing is very interesting, to say the least.

Thomas issued a statement regarding the decision saying,

“While incredibly difficult for me to say, Bones and I have parted ways. I’m going to be forever thankful for him joining me on the bag in 2021. The things we’ve been able to accomplish together – The PGA Championship in 2022, The Presidents Cup, The Ryder Cups were all unforgettable experiences. His wisdom on and off the course has been a blessing during a tough stretch of my career and he was there every step of the way. I know there are great things coming for both of us down the road. I wish him the best of luck and will always count him and his family amongst my friends.”

It is still unknown who will be on the bag for Thomas next week, but he will have to move quickly, as he looks to claim his first-ever Masters title.

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Justin Thomas paired with Tiger Woods Friday and Saturday at Genesis Invitational

Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods paired together Thursday and Friday at the Genesis Invitational

Alabama legend [autotag]Justin Thomas[/autotag] will be back on the links this weekend as he will be taking part in the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. However, the real news is that Thomas will be paired with Gary Woodland and Tiger Woods on Thursday and Friday.

In 2023, Woods only appeared in three tournaments so all eyes will be on the trio. To add to the buzz, it will also be Tiger’s first tournament since ending his partnership with Nike and he will be unveiling his new brand ‘Sun Day Red’. The three are currently slated to tee off at 9:25 a.m. local time.

A year ago, the winner was John Rahm who will enter this year’s contest as one of the favorites again. The tournament also has a purse of $20 million, so it is one of the more lucrative weekends on the PGA Tour.

Thomas is off to a great start to begin the 2024 campaign with a top-three finish at the American Express, a top-six finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and T-12 last week at the Waste Management Open.

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Alabama sophomore golfer Nick Dunlap turns professional

Alabama sophomore Golfer Nick Dunlap turns Pro after American Express Open victory

This past weekend, Alabama sophomore [autotag]Nick Dunlap[/autotag] made history as he became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson last did it in 1991. He shot 29 under par to win the American Express Open in La Quinta, California by one stroke over Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa. At only 20 years of age, Dunlap is on an unbelieve trajectory with a professional victory now under his belt.

Dunlap was hot the first two days of the tournament as he shot a 64 and 65, but he went absolutely nuclear on Saturday as he shot a 60. Since Dunlap was still an amateur he unfortunately had to forego his $1.5 million winnings. However, that will no longer be an issue moving forward as Dunlap announced today that he was going to forego his remaining eligibility and turn to the PGA Tour full-time.

It was this past summer that Dunlap really broke onto the scene as he became only the second player to ever win the US Amateur Championship as well as the US Junior Am along side some guy named Tiger Woods. Between Justin Thomas, Lee Hodges and now Dunlap, Alabama fans might soon become experts of the PGA Tour.

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Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap becomes the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991

20-year-old Nick Dunlap wins PGA Tour event as amateur for first time in over 30 years

When you think of Alabama golfers the names that immediately come to mind are [autotag]Justin Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Lee Hodges[/autotag], however, [autotag]Nick Dunlap[/autotag] is a name that you need to get to know now. At only 20 years of age, he is ascending as rapidly as any collegiate golfer in recent memory.

Today, Dunlap just became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991 when it was last done by Phil Mickelson. He is also only the eighth amateur to ever win on the Tour. Dunlap won the American Express in La Quinta, California while shooting a remarkable -29. Over the first three rounds he shot 64, 65 and 60 and was able to hold off on Sunday with a 70.

Dunlap is a Huntsville native and only a sophomore at the University of Alabama. Dunlap was first-team All-SEC last fall and won the U.S. Amateur Championship back in the summer. Since he is still in college, Dunlap will not be able to collect the $1.5 million winnings without giving up his amateur status.

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Watch: Alabama’s Nick Dunlap lips out birdie putt for a would-be 59

A sub-60 round has never happened in college golf.

A sub-60 round has never happened in college golf.

Nick Dunlap was a lip-out birdie putt from being the first.

Playing with his Alabama Crimson Tide teammates in the Hamptons Intercollegiate at Maidstone Golf Club in East Hampton, New York, Dunlap was on his 36th hole of the day.

He had already posted a 69 and he was 12 under through 17 on his second 18 when he faced a putt of about eight feet for a closing birdie. Had it dropped, he would’ve notched a 59 and become the first to reach that hallowed ground in the college game.

But – if we haven’t spoiled the video yet – it wasn’t meant to be.

Dunlap opened par-eagle-birdie to get things going and made the turn in 5-under 30. He then birdied the 10th, parred the 11th and then ripped off six straight birdies. He had 10 birdies in all but couldn’t quite get that last one to drop.

Nonetheless, Dunlap signed for a 60 to become the 18th golfer in the men’s college game to do so.

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Former Alabama golfer, Lee Hodges, earns first PGA Tour victory

Former Alabama golfer Lee Hodges earns first PGA Tour win at 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota

Former Alabama golfer, Lee Hodges, earned his first win on the PGA Tour Sunday after beating the field by seven strokes at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. The 28-year-old Hodges led the tournament wire to wire after shooting a remarkable 24 under par over the course of the weekend.

Hodges is one of seven former Crimson Tide golfers to be on the PGA Tour with the group being headlined by Justin Thomas. The purse for the Open was $7.8 million. His career winnings on the tour are $3.6 million.

Hodges joined the Tour in 2022 with the 3M Open this weekend being his 65th career event and only his second top-five finish. Hodges was born and raised in Ardmore, Alabama.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

The best reactions to Justin Thomas bringing home the 2022 PGA Championship

Justin Thomas’ incredible 2022 PGA Championship comeback brought out some fantastic Twitter reactions.

The roars of “JT” could be heard from the grandstands on the 18th green of Southern Hills Country Club as fans witnessed one of the most incredible comebacks in PGA history when Alabama’s [autotag]Justin Thomas[/autotag] won the 2022 PGA Championship. Thomas would defeat Will Zalatoris in a three-hole playoff to capture the championship.

Thomas entered the final round seven shots back of the lead but would finish six under par in his final 13 holes on Sunday to take home his second career major championship. The 29-year-old Thomas won his first career major back in 2017 when he also took home the Wanamaker Trophy.

Thomas has quickly become one of the most popular golfers in the world and it didn’t take Twitter long to deliver some incredible reactions to the former Crimson Tide star hoisting the Wanamaker with triumphant tears.

Let’s take a look at some of the best that Twitter had to offer.

 

Alabama Athletics plans to move forward with Phase II of ‘The Crimson Standard’

The Crimson Standard continues

Earlier this afternoon it was announced that the University of Alabama Athletics Department would be moving forward with phase II of “The Crimson Standard”.

A new competition arena for basketball and gymnastics is the biggest project of phase II. The new arena will seat over 10,000 and is designed to bring the fans closer to the action on the court, something that Crimson Tide fans have been clamoring for for years now.

The new arena will also feature student seating that will mostly take up the lower bowl section and additionally new premium options in club, loge, courtside, and lower-level preferred seating.

Certainly, the success that Nate Oats has had in his short tenure in Tuscaloosa has helped pave the way for the new arena.

Included in phase II is a start of the art golf practice facility. The practice facility would include a first-of-its-kind, nine-hole golf course along with several other amenities.

With the help of athletics director Greg Byrne, the announcement was made via Twitter.

For the complete details behind the announcement click here.

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