Scott Michael Dunlap Bio
Scott Michael Dunlap (born August 16, 1963) is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour Champions. A former member of the PGA Tour, Dunlap turned professional in 1985 and has built a long career that spans developmental circuits, the top tier of men’s golf, and the senior tour. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, he resides in Duluth, Georgia.
Early Life and Background
Scott Michael Dunlap was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Sarasota, Florida, where the warm climate and year-round courses helped shape his early interest in golf. He attended Sarasota High School, where his academic performance matched his athletic promise and he graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1981.
His family’s encouragement and the Florida golf scene provided a strong foundation. He went on to accept an athletic scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he joined the Florida Gators men’s golf team and competed in NCAA events from 1982 through 1985.
Path to Professional Golf
During his 1985 senior season, Dunlap helped the Gators capture the Southeastern Conference (SEC) team championship. His individual play that year earned him first-team All-SEC honors, an All-American selection, and the Golf Week Male Amateur of the Year award, signaling that he was ready for the professional ranks. He graduated from Florida with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1986.
Dunlap turned professional in 1985 and began his career on the developmental tours. Over the next several years he built experience on circuits such as the Southern Africa Tour, the Canadian Tour, and what is now the Korn Ferry Tour, collecting early victories that prepared him for the highest level of the sport.
Scott Michael Dunlap Career
Early Career (1985–1995)
Dunlap spent the late 1980s and early 1990s honing his game on the developmental tours. He recorded two wins on the Southern Africa Tour, two wins on the Nationwide Tour, and two wins on the Canadian Tour, establishing himself as a reliable contender. These early results gave him the platform to pursue a PGA Tour card.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1996–2002)
Dunlap played on the PGA Tour in 1996–97, 1999–2002, and again in 2012. His best season came in 2000, when he finished 44th on the year-end money list and reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 58th on August 20, 2000. That year he also recorded a tie for ninth at the PGA Championship at Valhalla, one of his strongest major-championship finishes.
His top PGA Tour results were three tied-for-third finishes: the 1996 Bell Canadian Open, the 1999 Doral-Ryder Open, and the 2000 Players Championship. He also posted a tie for tenth at The Open Championship in 1999 at Carnoustie and a tie for 24th at the 1997 U.S. Open, underlining his ability to compete on demanding major-championship setups. He also won five events on the Tour de las Américas during this period.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2014–Present)
After turning 50 in August 2013, Dunlap joined the Champions Tour full-time in 2014 and was named Champions Tour Rookie of the Year. He captured his first senior title at the Boeing Classic near Seattle that August, defeating Mark Brooks on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. Dunlap’s approach on the par-5 18th left him a short birdie putt, and after Brooks missed from long range, Dunlap two-putted for the win, earning a $300,000 winner’s share and a leather flight jacket.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dunlap is regarded as a steady ball striker with a calm temperament suited to match-play situations and sudden-death playoffs. His experience on multiple international tours has given him a versatile short game and a patient course-management approach that has translated well to senior competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his playoff win at the 2014 Boeing Classic, his tied-third finish at the 2000 Players Championship, and his top-ten result at the 2000 PGA Championship. His career-high ranking of 58th in 2000 and his Champions Tour Rookie of the Year award in 2014 stand out as defining benchmarks.
Scott Michael Dunlap Career Wins
Dunlap has accumulated 13 verified professional wins across multiple tours. His victories span the Southern Africa Tour, the Nationwide Tour, the Canadian Tour, the Tour de las Américas, and the PGA Tour Champions, reflecting a career built on consistency across a variety of competitive formats.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
On the PGA Tour Champions, Dunlap has two victories, the first of which was the 2014 Boeing Classic, decided in his favor on the first extra hole. He holds a 1–0 playoff record on the senior circuit and has continued to compete regularly since his rookie season.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Champions Tour, Dunlap recorded two wins each on the Southern Africa Tour, the Nationwide Tour, and the Canadian Tour, along with five victories on the Tour de las Américas. He never played in the Masters Tournament, while his major-championship appearances include a T24 at the 1997 U.S. Open, a T10 at the 1999 Open Championship, and a T9 at the 2000 PGA Championship.
Scott Michael Dunlap Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Scott Michael Dunlap’s parents is limited, and details about his early family life are not widely documented. His sister, Page Dunlap, is also a professional golfer, and the two share a clear sporting lineage rooted in Florida amateur and collegiate golf.
Personal Life
Dunlap is a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity from his time at the University of Florida. He has been based in Duluth, Georgia, where he continues to live while competing on the PGA Tour Champions.
2025 Season Performance
Scott Michael Dunlap continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, drawing on more than four decades of competitive golf. With two senior titles already on his resume, he remains a steady presence in regular Champions Tour events, leveraging the course-management skills that defined his earlier career.
As a multiple winner on the circuit, Dunlap enters each new season with an opportunity to contend in the limited-field majors and invitationals that have become cornerstones of the Champions Tour schedule. His playoff victory at the Boeing Classic demonstrated that he can still close out tournaments under pressure, an asset that should serve him well in 2025.
Looking ahead, Dunlap’s combination of experience, accurate iron play, and a calm demeanor gives him a credible path to additional senior titles. His continued presence on the Champions Tour underscores his enduring competitiveness in American professional golf.