Celebrity Status

[Birdiemachine22]

I was checking out the results from the American Century Championship in Tahoe, and I noticed that most of the celebrities accepted prize money. The amount that did was kind of surprising to me I figured some of the better players that play on the celebrity tour would, but i would have guessed that most still had amatuer status. Is this surprising to anyone else?

http://www.tahoecelebritygolf.com/Results.html

[Hays33d]

Does seem mildly surprising I suppose.

This is what jumped out at me:

82 Charles Barkley -23 -32 -26 -81 -81

OUCH!

[joshtpa]

Most (most, not all) say upfront that the prize money earned is going to their foundation or playing for a charity.

[Birdiemachine22]

  joshtpa said:

Most (most, not all) say upfront that the prize money earned is going to their foundation or playing for a charity.

I guess thats a good reason too, but it still must effect their amatuer status.

[joshtpa]

That is why certain guys like Elway dont accept money.

[JYB]

i would hope all those guys donate their winnings.

[Shindig]

Some are professionals - Rhoden for example.

  Birdiemachine22 said:

I guess thats a good reason too, but it still must effect their amatuer status.

I'm pretty sure that as long as the donation isn't made in your name, it's fine. My rule book has gone missing...

[golf_junkie27]

  Hays33d said:

Does seem mildly surprising I suppose.

What surprised me even more was Michael Jordan's numbers. He's supposed to be a 1.4 handicap and his lowest round was the equivalent to an 88. Can you say "vanity" handicap?

[shredfit]

Don't you guys know that Celebrities can do anything they want(and likely keep amateur status and the coin).

Heck, they probably got some entertainment attorney backing them... showing that their agent got them the spot in the golf tourney... therefore, any and all coin earned at the tourney was also subject to agent commission, and again, can be and IS refered to $$$ earned as an entertainer(not a golfer).

Freaken loop holes in everything.

[Shindig]

  golf_junkie27 said:

What surprised me even more was Michael Jordan's numbers. He's supposed to be a 1.4 handicap and his lowest round was the equivalent to an 88. Can you say "vanity" handicap?

Seriously. Unless he forgot how to play in front of an audience.

This is part of what impressed me very much about Tony Romo - both here and at the Torrey Pines event. He played to his stated low handicap. I seriously want to see that man get a + handicap and keep it during the football season!