Amateur status and Tour Pro winnings: what happens to the money prize?

[ipark1303]

I was following Tadd Fujikawa and I got curious on this issue....

On CNNSI.com, they say: "Had he been a pro, the finish would have been worth about $56,000."

Any suggestions on where the money goes?

[cdriver]

I believe he is skipped over when they are figuring the winnings.. If he finished 21st, then the professional who finished 22nd gets the 21st place money and down the line just like that. He is ignored in the prize winnings.

[NM Golf]

He is skipped as far as official money goes, like he wasn't there. I am sure though he was given a nice fat gift certificate in the pro shop. Mind you the GC still can't be more than $700.

[ipark1303]

Sorry my ignorance....

so, let's suppose an amateur wins a major..... he does not get anything from the 1-million and plus 1st prize????

isn't it like you win the lottery and they tell you, sorry you cannot cash the money because you are a student??!?!?!

[NM Golf]

Sorry my ignorance....

Again unless you have declared yourself a professional (which by the way is really easy, just say hey I am a pro now) then you are ineligible for any cash prize on the PGA tour. The catch is you must declare yourself a pro or amateur BEFORE the event. So regardless of the place you take in a tournament an amateur cannot receive any money.

[flap]

If he had declared himself pro before the event chances are the sponser would not have given him the spot.

[RX Phoenix]

If he had declared himself pro before the event chances are the sponser would not have given him the spot.

He got in by monday qualifying I believe, shooting a 67 for low round, but I bet that he is going to get a lot of sponsors exeptions now if he wants then, the kid can compete, outplayed a lot of pros out there.

Ball in a divot on 3, hits into a lake, double bogie, bogies the next, then bounces back and comes in at 72 . . . that course was TOUGH, windy, long, tricky, you saw the leaders crumble. That's awesome playing.

[aquacooled]

Again unless you have declared yourself a professional (which by the way is really easy, just say hey I am a pro now) then you are ineligible for any cash prize on the PGA tour. The catch is you must declare yourself a pro or amateur BEFORE the event. So regardless of the place you take in a tournament an amateur cannot receive any money.

really?!?!?! In europe you need to prove that you can play and have the basic knowledge to play the game. Once you have passed all playing tests and classroom time then you receive a PGA card of Germany. Before you get this you are unable to claim yourself as pro status.

[flap]

sorry about that I thought he got a sponsers ex like Wie did.

[jrbechthold]

Tadd won a local country club tournament that was a qualifier.

I am curious though... does his caddie get anything? They should give all the winnings to the caddie. That would be cool.

[NM Golf]

really?!?!?! In europe you need to prove that you can play and have the basic knowledge to play the game. Once you have passed all playing tests and classroom time then you receive a PGA card of Germany. Before you get this you are unable to claim yourself as pro status.

There is a difference between being a PGA pro and just a golf pro. Anyone can call themselves a golf pro in fact taking money in excess of $700 makes you one automatically. Make a hole in one, win a car, congrats your a pro now. The PGA program to become a class A PGA teaching pro is a long road including several trips to PGA school in Florida, a playing test and several "workbooks" to complete that rival any correspondence course. It is also fairly expensive, my buddy who is currently working his way through it will end up paying well more than $10,000 by the time he is finished. But you cannot be a head pro at a golf course without your PGA accreditation. Or you can make it on tour and become a PGA pro that way. Most of the guys playing on the mini tours are not PGA professionals.

[rockytopcamaro]

So if Amateur won a PGA OR Nationwide Event which is probably going to happened. At Children's Hospital Invitational Tournament in Colombia Ohio cause starting the final round the final pair is two amateurs if one of them wins will the cash prize just go to the highest pro or possibly to charity? Just wandering if anyone new? The 2 college kids are playing great golf this week. Kid from Georgia is averaging 328yds. A drive over 3 rounds & hasn't had a bogey in last 40 holes. That's impressive!

[hjimzaf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NM Golf

None

Anyone can call themselves a golf pro in fact taking money in excess of $700 makes you one automatically.

Make a hole in one, win a car, congrats your a pro now.

That's incorrect. Per the USGA: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Amateur-Status/Rule-03/

An amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize ) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of $750 or the equivalent, or such a lesser figure as may be decided by the USGA. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions.

Exception: A prize, including a cash prize, for a hole-in-one made while playing golf may exceed the above prize limit.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by hjimzaf

That's incorrect.

That was the rule for decades until it was changed a few years ago , shortly before the post from January, 2007 was made.

[hjimzaf]

Haha! I didn't see how old the thread was. All I saw was that the last post was made yesterday.

[NM Golf]

Originally Posted by rockytopcamaro

So if Amateur won a PGA OR Nationwide Event which is probably going to happened. At Children's Hospital Invitational Tournament in Colombia Ohio cause starting the final round the final pair is two amateurs if one of them wins will the cash prize just go to the highest pro or possibly to charity? Just wandering if anyone new? The 2 college kids are playing great golf this week. Kid from Georgia is averaging 328yds. A drive over 3 rounds & hasn't had a bogey in last 40 holes. That's impressive!

To answer your question, the first place prize money goes to the highest placing professional so in the case of today on the Nationwide Tour Kyle Reifers collected first-place money of $144,000.

[tomvk77]

You can go pro easy, the way back is not as easy.

Ones you go pro, you can't compete in amateur matches,

there is no support from the country golf federation or what so ever,

so basicly it's hard for the guy he didn't get the money, for him it's

just good experience that he can compete with these guys, it will not take

long before he goes pro, but than he well have every thing sorted out with

sponsors and other kind off support.