Rookie of the Year Dunlap Breaks Slump with Course Record-Tying Round

Tied for the Lead at 11-Under in WWT Championship Round 1
Struggled After Two Wins Last Year, Shot 90 at This Year's Masters
"It Feels Like My Efforts Have Finally Paid Off"

Nick Dunlap, last year's PGA Tour Rookie of the Year from the United States, matched the course record.

On November 6 (local time), during the first round of the Worldwide Technology Championship (total prize money: 6 million dollars) held at El Cardonal (par 72, 7,452 yards) in Los Cabos, Mexico, he shot an 11-under-par 61. He carded one eagle and nine birdies without a single bogey. He shares the lead with Sami Valimaki of Finland.

Nick Dunlap is teeing off at the 18th hole of the first round of the Worldwide Technology Championship. Los Cabos, Mexico ? AFP Yonhap News Agency

Last year, Dunlap was the brightest new star on the PGA Tour. While attending the University of Alabama, he won the American Express tournament in January, becoming the first amateur in 33 years to lift a PGA Tour trophy. After turning professional last year, he claimed another victory at the Barracuda Championship in July and was named Rookie of the Year.

However, this year Dunlap suffered from a severe sophomore slump. Prior to this event, he missed the cut in 12 out of 24 tournaments he entered. In the first round of the season's first major, the Masters in April, he endured the humiliation of shooting a score of 90. At that time, Dunlap recorded seven bogeys, four double bogeys, and one triple bogey, without a single birdie. He finished last with an 18-over-par 90. It was the first time in 10 years that a score in the 90s was recorded at the Masters, since Ben Crenshaw of the United States shot a 91 in the first round in 2015. Additionally, it was the first time in history that a player under the age of 38 had recorded such a score.

After a prolonged slump, Dunlap has now found an opportunity to claim his first win of the season. After the round, Dunlap said, "It was mentally tough to the point where even the slightest breeze would bother me, but I tried not to take my poor results personally. I am satisfied because I feel my efforts have finally paid off."