Nick Dunlap Stages Historic Masters Comeback with 19-Shot Turnaround

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Nick Dunlap transformed a potential career-low moment into a Masters performance for the ages, rebounding from an 18-over-par 90 in Thursday’s opening round—one of the worst scores in tournament history—to fire a 1-under 71 on Friday, marking a staggering 19-stroke improvement that captivated Augusta National and golf fans worldwide.

The 21-year-old PGA Tour phenom, already a two-time winner as a professional, faced humiliation after his disastrous first round. His 90 tied the second-worst score by a player under 50 at the Masters in the last 70 years, leaving him flirting with the tournament’s all-time low round. Yet, instead of withdrawing—a path chosen by others in similar straits, including Billy Casper, who once posted a 106 and refused to sign his scorecard—Dunlap spent Thursday night hammering golf balls into the Georgia pines behind his rental house, determined to fight back.

From Disaster to Determination Dunlap’s Thursday unraveled early. A triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 fifth hole set the tone for a front-nine 43, followed by a back-nine 47 littered with missed fairways and uncharacteristic errors. “It’s frustrating. There’s a lot of anger,” Dunlap admitted afterward. “You invest everything and feel like you’re not improving”.

But Friday told a different story. Dunlap, channeling the resilience that has drawn comparisons to legends like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, attacked Augusta’s treacherous layout with precision. He carded three birdies against two bogeys, avoiding the big numbers that plagued his opener. His 71 ranked among the day’s best rounds, a feat made more remarkable by the psychological toll of his historic collapse just 24 hours earlier.

A Near-Record Rebound The 19-shot swing stands as the largest round-to-round improvement at the Masters since 1936 and ranks among the greatest single-round turnarounds in major championship history over the past 50 years, per ESPN. While Dunlap missed the cut at 17-over-par, his grit overshadowed the result. Social media and broadcasters alike hailed the performance, with fans dubbing it a “masterclass in mental toughness”.

Legacy of Resilience Dunlap’s rollercoaster week underscores golf’s unforgiving nature—even for its brightest young stars. His decision to battle back, rather than retreat, cemented his reputation as a competitor who thrives under fire. “I showed up today, gave it my all, and managed to post something under par,” Dunlap said, a quiet triumph in a tournament that had already slipped away.

As the golf world dissects Tiger Woods’ record 12-stroke Masters victory in 1997 or Jack Nicklaus’ iconic charges, Dunlap’s 2025 saga will endure as a testament to the sport’s capacity for redemption. For a player once best known as a junior phenom, this week proved that his greatest weapon isn’t his swing—it’s his resolve.

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The Masters once again reminded fans why it’s the ultimate test of skill and spirit. And in Nick Dunlap, golf found its newest emblem of perseverance.