In the world of professional golf, success often comes with substantial financial rewards. For Nick Dunlap, however, his remarkable victory came with an unexpected twist that left $1.5 million on the table—a significant lesson that wasn't covered in his finance classes at the University of Alabama.

"It stings a little bit," Dunlap confessed to CNN Sports, reflecting on his extraordinary performance at the PGA Tour's American Express tournament in California. As a college student invited to play on a sponsor's exemption, what happened next defied all expectations.

Dunlap stunned the golfing world by becoming the tour's second youngest champion in 90 years and its first amateur champion since Phil Mickelson in 1991. The achievement was historic, but it came with a substantial catch: as an amateur player, Dunlap had to forfeit the $1,512,000 prize money.

"At the time, I don't think I really knew what $1.5 million was," he said with a smile. "It wasn't as hard as it is now. But ultimately, I got what I wanted in the end: a trophy."

For those familiar with Dunlap's amateur career, his success wasn't entirely surprising. Just months earlier, he had joined Tiger Woods as the only other golfer to win both the US Junior Amateur and the US Amateur titles—an elite accomplishment in itself.

What followed would cement his place in golfing history. A few months after his amateur win, Dunlap accomplished something even Woods never did—he won again on the PGA Tour, but this time as a professional. No golfer had ever won as both an amateur and a professional in the same season.

Despite golf's genteel reputation, Dunlap describes himself almost like an adrenaline junkie. "I just love competing," he explained. "I miss it when I'm at home. I miss being in the hunt and having that feeling of being nervous. My parents are both highly competitive as well, so I think I have them to blame for that!"

Following his California victory, Dunlap made the life-changing decision to leave academia behind. He packed up his schoolbooks and joined the PGA Tour full-time, never completing his degree at Alabama. The transition wasn't seamless—he recorded just one top-10 finish in six months and missed the cut in the three majors he played that season.

Nevertheless, by the end of his first professional season, Dunlap had accumulated approximately $3 million in earnings. The greatest challenges, he reflects, came not on the fairways but in the everyday responsibilities of adulthood.

"It was just learning how to be a man, a grown-up," he told CNN. "In college, everything is laid out for you. Obviously, the step I took was very large and I skipped multiple levels, and I knew there were going to be some speed bumps along the way. I got a place in South Florida, figuring out all that stuff, figuring out taxes and accountants and how to open bank accounts, that was the biggest change for me."

Despite now being ranked among the top 50 golfers globally, Dunlap maintains a youthful perspective. Some veteran players have teased him about his youth, but he embraces it. "I'm my own worst critic, being out here is very stressful," he admitted. "I still try to be a kid."

This balance between professional excellence and maintaining a sense of fun appears crucial to his approach. "I played with a buddy of mine at a Pop Stroke Putt Putt championship. I still try to have fun with it too," he said.

Though highly motivated, Dunlap tends to keep his goals private. Still, it's evident he aims to succeed in major tournaments, where he's yet to make his first weekend appearance after five attempts. His Masters debut last year provided a memorable, if somewhat uncomfortable, introduction to golf's most prestigious event.

"It's the only place I've ever been nervous playing a practice round," he recalled. "There's just a different feeling about it. Ever since I picked up a golf club, you look forward to that."

Playing alongside then-defending champion Jon Rahm and former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, Dunlap's Augusta experience began with a moment he can now laugh about. He drove his opening tee shot far left of the fairway and into the gallery of spectators.

"I expected myself to be pretty nervous," he chuckled. "It didn't help that I hooked it off the first tee and literally cracked some dude's head open. Like, he's bleeding everywhere. I'm like, 'Yeah, that's a good start.'" The following day, Dunlap was cut from the tournament.

As he prepares for the 2025 Masters and looks to make his first cut at a major championship, Dunlap remains grateful for his unconventional journey. Despite the financial lesson learned early in his career and the challenges of his rapid transition to professional golf, his perspective remains refreshingly positive.

"This is what I always wanted to do," he said. "To play golf and get paid for it, even better. Traveling the world, seeing some of the greatest golf courses in the history of the game and playing against the best players in the world. I think it's definitely a dream!"