Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm both know good golf when they see it.
Two LIV Golf stars congratulated Nick Dunlap on Sunday evening as he became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991, when the 20-year-old University of Alabama sophomore won.
Mickelson, of course, was the last amateur to accomplish that, winning the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona, as a 20-year-old sophomore at Arizona State University.
Mickelson: “Nick Dunlap's great performance'' Posted “Congratulations on a great win. This is just the beginning.”
Great performance by Nick Dunlap. Congratulations on an incredible victory.this is just the beginning
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 22, 2024
Meanwhile, Rahm echoed Mickelson's sentiment, saying Dunlap has a bright future.
“An amazing accomplishment from @NickDunlap62. The outstanding play and the way he performed under the pressure of joining a very select group of players to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur.” Rahm Posted With X.
What an amazing achievement! @NickDunlap62 , how to excel and persevere under the pressure of joining a highly select group of players to win PGA Tour events as amateurs! A great future awaits this amazing talent! Congratulations.
— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmOfficial) January 22, 2024
“A great future ahead for this amazing talent! Congratulations.”
Dunlap definitely has great talent, and it was on full display at last year's U.S. Amateur. Dunlap defeated Neil Shipley 4&3 at Cherry Hills Country Club in August, joining Tiger Woods as the only two players to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur.
And Dunlap started dating Mickelson after winning at American Express.
Dunlap is now in an elite group, considering Woods and Mickelson have won a combined 21 major championships since 1997.
Still, it's refreshing to see two LIV golfers recognizing Dunlap's accomplishments and talent. Although an agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) appears imminent, there is still a lot of animosity between the circuits. But at the end of the day, good golf is good golf, and Dunlap played better than anyone last weekend. Thankfully, everyone acknowledged that.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
