Amateur in US OPEN questions

[Comeback]

I know that amateurs are able to qualify for the US Open, but my question is if they make the cut and win money do they loose their amateur status? Or are they not able to collect the winnings?

[augafan48]

If they wish to remain an amateur, they cannot collect the winnings. But if they choose to, they lose their amateur status and become pro. Basically they couldn't compete in any amateur events after that

[Shindig]

Quite possibly a longer answer than you were expecting, but I'm not good at containing myself when I know about something.

When you compete in a professional event as an amateur, you have two options. You must decide before you play, so it isn't a matter of deciding once you know you're playing the weekend.

1. Forfeit your amateur status. It is unlikely that anyone who plays as an amateur will do this, as most amateurs who qualify are college players. But I think it's possible to attempt, say, Monday qualifying for an event (or sectional, etc, for a U.S. Open) and then decide at the event to accept money.

2. Waive your right to accept prize money, except for some parts of the prize money as specified in the Rules of Amateur Status (by the USGA, in the case of the events under their jurisdiction).

This is how various college players can compete in these events. There are events that even give amateur invitations, such as the first three majors of the year. One NWT event invites an entire NCAA team. Jack's tournament invites the NCAA individual champion (I think). The Nelson invited that 16-year old who contended quite well. Many of these invites - especially the Masters ones - are contingent on retaining one's amateur status.

Amateurs have even won professional tournaments, but I believe they have been unable to accept the prize money. The last amateurs to win on the PGA Tour were Phil Mickelson and Scott Verplank. Pablo Martin and Danny Lee have accomplished the feat more recently on the European Tour, and Daniel Summerhays did so on the Nationwide Tour, a few weeks after Jamie Lovemark almost did the same, losing in a playoff. Each of the winners would have been able to accept tour membership upon turning pro (although I think Martin had another season of college ball before he played professionally; I'm not certain).