GOLF
What does the winner of the 2024 U.S. Open golf tournament get? Prize money, Jack Nicklaus medal...
As LIV golf entices some of the world’s best players with Saudi riches, the PGA Tour is showing its willing to increase the prize pots too.
The players were making their final preparations for the 2024 U.S. Open when Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, informed us that those stars of golf would be competing for the biggest financial prize in major history. Given the tensions between the PGA and LIV golf, and the cash rewards being a key differential, this was welcome news for many.
What will the 2024 U.S. Open winner get?
Coming into the final day at Pinehurst, there were several players still in contention for the big prize, but one former winner of this major was suggesting that this could be his year. Bryson Dechambeau already has one U.S. title in the cabinet and arrived on Sunday with a lead. But there was a pack chasing.
Whoever ends up winning the US Open, will be awarded with the tournament’s trophy. However, the champion will receive a replica, as the original remains in the USGA Museum in New Jersey. The winner will keep the trophy as long as he’s the champion.
So to the monetary reward and this year’s U.S. Open winner will get a check for $4.3 million up significantly on last year’s $3.6 million. The overall pot is a very tasty $21.5 million.
What else does the U.S. Open winner receive?
The golfer with the best card at the end of the competition will also be rewarded with the Jack Nicklaus medal, a gold medal that has been handed to the winner since 1895. The medal was originally nameless until 2012, when it was finally named the Jack Nicklaus Medal to honor the 18-time major winner, one of the four players to win the US Open four times.
If that wasn’t enough, being the best at the US Open translates into getting some interesting exemptions. The winner will be able to feature in the next 10 US Open events and the next five editions of The Open, The Masters, and the PGA Championship.
He will also get a five-year exemption into The Players Championship and will secure their PGA Tour card for the same period. And will get invitations to the US Senior Open for five years as well as to the Senior Open and Senior PGA Championship.