On the 18th hole of the final day at last year's American Express, amateur Nick Dunlap had a tricky little six-footer for par to become one of the most unlikely winners on the PGA Tour in years.

On Saturday, Dunlap found himself with a similar six-footer on the 18th green at the Stadium Course, and it too had a lot of importance. The now 21-year-old pro calmly sank the putt which allowed him to make the cut on the number as he is 9 under after three rounds and will play on Sunday again.

It's a far cry from being 27 under through three rounds like he was last year, but he knows the significance of such a putt.

"I learned that last year those little things like making the cut instead of missing it by one or two and kind of packing it in is important," Dunlap said after a 1-under 71 on the Stadium Course on Saturday. "If I can go low tomorrow, all those points and things add up at the end of the year."

Then he laughed and said there's a monetary incentive, too.

"No matter what I shoot tomorrow, I'll make more than I did last year," he said.

Since Dunlap was an amateur last year, he didn't get a penny of the $1,512,000 first-place prize. On Sunday, even if he were to finish last among the players who made the cut, he'd still take home $18,920.

Dunlap turned pro less than a week after last year's event and has been earning money and accolades ever since. Since turning pro, he's racked up $3,175,410 in earnings including a seven-figure check for winning the Barracuda Championship in July. He was named the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year.

Making the cut has another benefit he said in that it gives him another round to work on his game, which he said he could use right now.

"I gotta work on my game a little bit, it's a little off," he said. "It's been a little bit of a grind. I've struggled a little bit off the tee, so I've kind of seen all of every golf course. If I could just drive it a little bit better, I think I'm putting it nice right now, just need to give myself more chances."

His round Saturday included a double bogey, two bogeys and five birdies. That followed up a 3-under 69 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday and a 5-under 67 at La Quinta Country Club on Thursday.

It's safe to say he won't become the first back-to-back winner at the American Express since Johnny Miller in 1975 and 1976. He is 14 shots behind the leader Sepp Straka.

But Dunlap's first-ever event as a defending champion was fun, he said. For one thing, this year the gallery knew who he was.

"Yeah, it was nice to feel a little bit of love, and it's nice to be back somewhere where I'm familiar with the course, although there were some changes (at the Stadium Course) that were a little unique. But the experience as a whole has been great."

Dunlap rewarded that doting gallery when his round was over, even if he was a little down about the way he played. After signing his scorecard, he spent 15 to 20 minutes to sign a bunch of caps and visors and flags and in one guy's case a shoe, taking photos with every man, woman and child who requested it.

"Yeah, I always like to do that. I think it's fun, I don't think it takes that long. If it makes somebody's day, then great," he said.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nick Dunlap's title defense continues into Sunday at American Express