Amateur athletics sells the couch

There is no more snooty of a body about amateur athletics than the venerable USGA The ghost of Bobby Jones is involved in everything they do. They prefer that golf pros use the service entrance. And now it's over. The Olympics and college ball were one thing. But this is the USGA

PINEHURST, N.C. – It was the last question fielded by the USGA trio of Mike Whan, Fred Perpall and John Bodenhamer on Wednesday morning inside Pinehurst’s interview room.

With the influx of cash into college and amateur athletics in recent years through name, image and likeness, and similar channels, would the USGA ever consider paying amateurs prize money at its professional championships.

Whan, the governing body’s CEO, didn’t say no.

“We’ve tried to evolve NIL and amateur status, as the game has, we as the USGA kind of created an NIL and amateur status angle before the NCAA did, so golf was kind of ahead of that time,” said Whan, referencing the USGA’s sweeping changes to its rules of amateur status in 2021. “I’m not sure. You may be right. We may be heading to that path sooner rather than later.”

The USGA’s modernized amateur rules eliminated all advertising, expense-related and sponsorship restrictions while only prohibiting amateurs from accepting prize money over $1,000 in a scratch competition, charging for providing instruction, accepting employment as a club pro or simply playing as a professional.