Absolutely no one would've blamed Nick Dunlap from withdrawing after his first round at The Masters this week.
Dunlap shot an 18-over-par 90 and flirted with the record for the worst score in any round in tournament history. When Billy Casper posted a Thursday 106 in 2005, he refused to even sign his scorecard, ensuring that his name wouldn't go down in the record books as the most infamous score at Augusta.
Dunlap could've faked a back injury. He could've packed it up and fled the state of Georgia. Instead, he went back to his rental home with a bucket of balls and kept hitting practice shots at nothing late into the night. When he returned to Augusta National for his second round on Friday, everything about his game had flipped.
The 21-year-old posted one of the best rounds of the day — if not the most impressive — by shooting a one-under par 71. On the biggest stage in the sport, on a course where all eyes are on your every move, Nick Dunlap showed the type of resilience and fortitude that will earn him lifelong fans.
Dunlap's 2025 Masters could've been a cautionary tale. Instead his 19-stroke improvement will serve as inspiration to everyone who plays this course in the future. Even fellow pros on the course were impressed with Dunlap's turnaround.
Even Friday's radio broadcast kept interrupting the featured groups to provide updates on Dunlap. Despite missing the cut with a last-place 17-over, it sure seems like golf fans have nothing but amazing things to say about the way Dunlap battled back.
Nick Dunlap's second round was 19 (!) shots better than his first. pic.twitter.com/IXTrUTgUBz
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 11, 2025
Honestly? Credit to Nick Dunlap for not WDing. Gotta be tempting to say ‘back injury’ at 11-over through 12 and peace out. Some honor in signing for 90, even if he’s last by 11 pic.twitter.com/T3oRd5nX0w
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) April 10, 2025
Just became a big Nick Dunlap fan. https://t.co/o8MNxdp13n
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) April 12, ...
