There are several amateurs in the field at the US Open every year, having qualified through a variety of ways.
But like other Majors and PGA Tour events, amateurs don’t receive payment and aren’t eligible for a share of the tournament prize money, even if they make the cut.
Any amateur with a handicap index of 0.4 or lower, as well as any professional, can enter US Open qualifying, with more than 10,000 golfers applying to compete for a spot at the Major this year.
There will be 16 amateurs in the field at Pinehurst No.2, with some securing their spot through a range of exemptions for amateurs and others making it through qualifying.
The professionals who make the cut this week will compete for millions in prize money, with the final purse for 2024 still yet to be announced. Even the pros who miss the cut will receive $10,000, but none of the amateurs competing will be paid at all.
There are also no loopholes, meaning an amateur won’t be able to simply turn pro in the middle of the tournament if they were playing well to try and claim payment for their finish.
Amateurs must retain their status throughout the event, and can only officially turn pro once the tournament has drawn to a close.
An amateur is classed by the USGA as “someone who plays the game purely for fun, enjoyment, and competition”.
While amateurs don’t get paid, they can receive exemptions to future events through their finish at the US Open, while there are many other benefits like exposure and sponsorship opportunities from playing the tournament as a non-professional.
Neal Shipley qualified for the US Open as low amateur in the 2024 Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Rule 3.1 in the USGA’s Rules of Amateur Status, Playing for Prize Money, states: “An amateur golfer cannot play for money in a golf match, exhibition or other competition such as a tournament. The USGA enforces the rule to maintain a clear distinction between amateur golfers and professionals.”
The USGA offers one exception to the rule: “Amateurs can keep prize money for winning a hole-in-one contest during the course of a tournament. But the amateur cannot accept money for winning the tournament overall.”
So what happens to the prize money that an amateur would have received? Well, the cash that was supposed to be paid out for that…
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