This is a list of golfers who won a PGA Tour tournament as amateur golfers since 1945. No golfer was able to achieve the feat during the 1960s or 1970s, after which one golfer won as an amateur in 1985, followed by another golfer in 1991.[1] Nick Dunlap is the latest golfer to achieve the feat, doing so at the 2024 American Express.[2]
Winning a PGA Tour tournament as an amateur is a feat that has been achieved by eight golfers in this timeframe, with the only golfer to win more than once as an amateur being Frank Stranahan, who did so four times. As the list shows, no tournament has been won by an amateur golfer more than once.
Under PGA Tour rules, if a golfer plays as an amateur, they may not collect their winnings – nor can they turn professional while they are playing in a tournament.[3]
| Golfer | Tournament | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cary Middlecoff | North and South Open | 1945 | [4] |
| Fred Haas | Memphis Invitational | ||
| Frank Stranahan | Durham War Bond Tournament | ||
| Kansas City Invitational Victory Bond Golf Tournament | 1946 | [5] | |
| Fort Worth Invitational | [6] | ||
| Miami Open | 1948 | [4] | |
| Gene Littler | San Diego Open | 1954 | [7] |
| Doug Sanders | Canadian Open | 1956 | |
| Scott Verplank | Western Open | 1985 | [1] |
| Phil Mickelson | Northern Telecom Open | 1991 | |
| Nick Dunlap | The American Express | 2024 | [2] |
References
edit- ^ a b Auclair, T.J. (January 13, 2018). "It's been 27 years since Phil Mickelson won as an amateur on the PGA Tour". PGA of America.
- ^ a b "Amateur Nick Dunlap wins PGA Tour's The American Express". ESPN. January 21, 2024.
- ^ Rose, M. L. (March 16, 2017). "Can Amateurs Collect Winnings in PGA Events?". Golfweek.
- ^ a b "When's the last time an amateur won a PGA Tour tournament?". thegolfnewsnet.com. July 23, 2016.
- ^ "Bio of Golfer Frank Stranahan". Golf Compendium.
- ^ Rowland, Kyle (July 21, 2019). "Toledo's Stranahan among greatest amateur golfers of all time". Toledo Blade.
- ^ Ostrout, Neill (June 26, 2011). "Amateur Winners in the PGA Tour". Connecticut Post.