5 perks of winning the US Open
By winning the US Open, you earn yourself a place in an exclusive club of major champions and a spot in the history of the game.
That’s precisely what Matt Fitzpatrick did at Brookline in 2022 and another lucky player will do the same at Los Angeles Country Club this year.
As well as having your name etched on to the US Open trophy, what else do you receive as a result of winning this famous tournament?
Take a look below at the five perks of winning the US Open…
Perks of winning the US Open
A long list of exemptions
If you win the US Open, you earn a 10 year exemption for this tournament.
Also, lifting America’s national trophy allows you to play in the Open Championship, the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the Players Championship for another five years.
A trophy and a medal
The champion of the United States Open receives the famous trophy and they are allowed to keep this for a year until they return it to the USGA at the following year’s tournament.
Winners can also receive a replica of the trophy, an item to remember their special week by, propped up on the mantlepiece at home.
The champion is also given a gold medal which was named the Jack Nicklaus medal in 2012.
A lift up the rankings
There are 100 Official World Golf Ranking points on offer for the US Open champion, just like there are for the other three major tournaments.
Climbing up the rankings can undoubtedly help players qualify for further events in the future, as well as achieve a spot in the longed-for top 50.
Along with OWGR points, the winner also receives 600 FedEx Cup points, points that are more valuable than ever with the revamped PGA Tour schedule in 2024 rewarding players with higher priority exemptions.
An abundance of Ryder Cup points is also on offer in a year when the 44th edition takes place in September in Italy.
Prize money
In the current climate of professional golf where prize money seems to be gradually ascending, winning a major championship won’t put you wrong in this department.
Matt Fitzpatrick bagged himself $3,150,000 in 2022 for winning his first major title, which was the highest payout in major championship history at the time.
The total purse for this year’s US Open will be announced in due course.
A trip to Hawaii
If you win the US Open, or any tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, you are invited to the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
The showpiece event in Hawaii was given elevated status in 2023 and featured a number of the world’s best players battling it out at one of the tour’s most scenic venues.
NOW READ: Sergio Garcia earns US Open spot at Final Qualifying
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
