Ireland’s Paul Dunne will not be eligible for the £1.1m prize money should he become the first amateur to lift the Claret Jug since 1930.
The Wicklow native is the co-leader of the prestigious tournament on the fifth and final day on Monday, with his tee-off time scheduled for 2.30pm.
He’s level on 12 under alongside Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day, but if Dunne finishes above the two professionals - or any other professional for that matter - he’ll have to concede the prize money to whoever finishes runner-up.
Instead, Dunne would be awarded just £500 as amateurs are not entitled to the full prize kitty, according to the rule book of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, as below.
If Paul Dunne wins #TheOpen the £1.1m prize will go to 2nd place. He'll receive a "memento". http://t.co/HLlfFh7b3e pic.twitter.com/Qdk6fooOAu
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 19, 2015
The rules state "prize money shall be allocated to professional golfers" but there is a clause which allows the Championship Committee to review the situation.
Dunne plans to turn professional later this year and already has major sponsors fighting for his signature following a remarkable performance at The Open to date.
The 22-year-old carded a score of 66 in the Third Round, the lowest an amateur has ever managed in the Open’s 144-year history.
He is also the first amateur to be leading the event after 54 holes since American legend Bobby Jones in 1927.
Here’s today’s tee-off times for the remaining Irish participants at #TheOpen G.McDowell – 9.05am P.Harrington – 2.10pm P.Dunne – 2.30pm — Irish Post Sport (@IrishPostSport) July 20, 2015
