Will an amateur golfer ever come close to winning the US Open?

[ConcentricDimples]

Based on the seeming trend for the US Open to be on ever-increasingly long courses, and also BIG courses like Chambers and Erin Hills, I think a physically-large amateur will come along one year, be hitting it 40-50 yards past the longest pros, and just tear-up the place.

 

I think under that kind of circumstance, it might very well happen.

[bogeypro]

A 4 handicap could win it, but they allow them in 'cause they scared....

[bladehunter]

I know there was a time where the top ams in the country would play the US open and do reasonably well, considering the field they are going up against. But it's been 84 years since an amateur won the US Open and last year only 1 made the cut and placed at a very respectful 20th place (+7) but not exactly in contention. Seeing as how the courses become more and more difficult, what's the point of ams even attempting the US Open qualifiers? Is it just a cash grab by the USGA because they know people are going to sign up? Does the Open even serve a purpose other than showing how insanely difficult these courses can be?

 

I guess I'm just not seeing the reason for having it open to amateur golfers when we all know (as well as the USGA) that the vast majority of them will never qualify for it and if they do qualify they will most likely miss the cut.

 

 

Not open to ams ?! Wtf ? Do you like banana pudding minus bananas ? Without ams there is no us open.

[bladehunter]

On a serious note. Plenty of ams could have won it if any stayed ams long enough. They go pro to make $. Take Rahm for instance. Easily a contender. But turned pro. Then you could consider Justin Rose , tiger woods or Speith as easily capable ams just before they turned pro. That's the reason we don't see it. They turn pro to be rich. It isn't because no ams can do it.

[Guia]

An Amateur could win the U.S. Open, I don't who. Most things are possible.

[2bGood]

Not likely to win - not because of physical skill, but because of maturity and experience. Come close - 100% yes.

[Guia]

In Bobby Jones time there were very few Professionals, golf was basically for the well heeled. I think that there is the possibility that an amateur might win in the future. There are several Pro's who have only been out of college for 2 years that are contending in tournaments now.

 

Justin Thomas just shot 63 and I believe is only in his 2nd year on the tour, he has also shot 59 in a PGA tournament. We are getting more and more real athletes into golf. There might be another Tiger or Jack out there who is under 20.

[upndowninthree]

absolute perfect circumstances, yes, an Am could win one. Mickelson, Rahm, Tiger type amateur at their home course, which happens to be a first time venue that most pros haven't seen yet, mixed with a wicked hot putter, sure anything is possible.

[oz dee cee]

It should always be open for Amatuers but I would think the chances of one winning are skyward of 1000/1. That's not impossible, just unlikely.

[larrybud]

Any am that has a remote possibility to compete generally turns pro in short order. Dollars are why no Am will ever win it again, not because there aren't ever any good ams.

[SadTrombone]

What if he has a staff bag with his name on it?

[sandy]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

[Roadking2003]

Over a long enough timeline, the improbable becomes probable

 

So....yes

 

This is true. Statistically, whatever is possible will eventually happen, given enough iterations.

[Ashley Schaeffer]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

[Roadking2003]

I guess I'm just not seeing the reason for having it open to amateur golfers when we all know (as well as the USGA) that the vast majority of them will never qualify for it and if they do qualify they will most likely miss the cut.

 

If an AM beats the pros in the qualifying rounds, they should play. Otherwise, you are not getting the best players into the event. Scottie Scheffler beat lots of pros in qualifying, then he soundly beat McIlroy, Day, Johnson, Scott, Dufner and Rose in the tournament. If he can beat five of the top ten players in the world over two days, he has a chance. Someday it will happen.

[sandy]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

 

They fixed them with tees back then (ball marks and spike marks). Looking back it was ball marks not spike marks, he putted over. Jack did not bet on the event, he bet on himself to win. Many amateurs bet on themselves to win in tournaments back then, the problem was if they bet on others and threw the match. He didn't win so no payout. By the way he didn't place the bet himself, a family friend did. Name was Woody Hayes who regularly would get in pushing matches with Palmer fans who kept yelling fat jack..I believe he also coached the Ohio State football team when he wasn't following Jack with Jack's father. I believe that was the only tournament he ever bet on himself to win. Since I see a big $0 behind his 282 score he hardly was a pro. Since he won the 1961 USGA amateur, the powers that be also considered him an amateur. To this day no amateur has come close to that 282 at Cherry Hills

[Ashley Schaeffer]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

 

They fixed them with tees back then (ball marks and spike marks). Looking back it was ball marks not spike marks, he putted over. Jack did not bet on the event, he bet on himself to win. Many amateurs bet on themselves to win in tournaments back then, the problem was if they bet on others and threw the match. He didn't win so no payout. By the way he didn't place the bet himself, a family friend did. Name was Woody Hayes who regularly would get in pushing matches with Palmer fans who kept yelling fat jack..I believe he also coached the Ohio State football team when he wasn't following Jack with Jack's father. I believe that was the only tournament he ever bet on himself to win. Since I see a big $0 behind his 282 score he hardly was a pro.

 

He bet on the outcome on an event in which he was playing (a la Pete Rose betting for the Reds to win, which keeps him out of the HOF to this day). It doesn't matter that he worked through an intermediary. It was still his bet, and at his admitted direction. If some highly-ranked amateur did that now, people would freak out, including the USGA. Since it's Jack, however, it was all in good fun. He's Classy Jack.

 

And, don't get me started on just how classy Woody Hayes was, haha! Aside from the pushing matches at a freaking golf tournament, in the gallery, the reporter-assaulting, player-assaulting, only CFB coach who has ever been ejected, who said things about the My Lai Massacre I can't even post, was a family friend of the Classy Jack.

[jmvargas]

just did a quick check on the best amateur score per day for last week and it was 69-69-71-73=282(-6) vs winning score of -16.

 

...so i doubt it.

 

PS: IIRC the closest this could have happened in recent times was in 1960 when amateur Jack Nicklaus lost the US Open to Arnie's famous comeback but was only 2 or 3 strokes back and tied with Ben Hogan..

 

and hey...Jack went on to arguably become the GOAT!!

[Ashley Schaeffer]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

 

They fixed them with tees back then (ball marks and spike marks). Looking back it was ball marks not spike marks, he putted over. Jack did not bet on the event, he bet on himself to win. Many amateurs bet on themselves to win in tournaments back then, the problem was if they bet on others and threw the match. He didn't win so no payout. By the way he didn't place the bet himself, a family friend did. Name was Woody Hayes who regularly would get in pushing matches with Palmer fans who kept yelling fat jack..I believe he also coached the Ohio State football team when he wasn't following Jack with Jack's father. I believe that was the only tournament he ever bet on himself to win. Since I see a big $0 behind his 282 score he hardly was a pro. Since he won the 1961 USGA amateur, the powers that be also considered him an amateur. To this day no amateur has come close to that 282 at Cherry Hills

 

Upon your edit, it's the wrong analysis. Had he won, he would have won under the table money. He admittedly gambled on golf to win money, and then was allowed to masquerade as an amateur the following year. That is a much bigger black eye for the USGA than anything that happened at Erin Hills. I'm not trying to be controversial. I honestly believe he should be retroactively stripped of his 1961 US Amateur given his admission.

[SadTrombone]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

 

They fixed them with tees back then (ball marks and spike marks). Looking back it was ball marks not spike marks, he putted over. Jack did not bet on the event, he bet on himself to win. Many amateurs bet on themselves to win in tournaments back then, the problem was if they bet on others and threw the match. He didn't win so no payout. By the way he didn't place the bet himself, a family friend did. Name was Woody Hayes who regularly would get in pushing matches with Palmer fans who kept yelling fat jack..I believe he also coached the Ohio State football team when he wasn't following Jack with Jack's father. I believe that was the only tournament he ever bet on himself to win. Since I see a big $0 behind his 282 score he hardly was a pro. Since he won the 1961 USGA amateur, the powers that be also considered him an amateur. To this day no amateur has come close to that 282 at Cherry Hills

 

Upon your edit, it's the wrong analysis. Had he won, he would have won under the table money. He admittedly gambled on golf to win money, and then was allowed to masquerade as an amateur the following year. That is a much bigger black eye for the USGA than anything that happened at Erin Hills. I'm not trying to be controversial. I honestly believe he should be retroactively stripped of his 1961 US Amateur given his admission.

 

According to the USGA, gambling does not violate amateur status.

 

http://www.usga.org/rules-hub/amateur-status/usga-policy-on-gambling-78282bad.html

[Ashley Schaeffer]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

 

They fixed them with tees back then (ball marks and spike marks). Looking back it was ball marks not spike marks, he putted over. Jack did not bet on the event, he bet on himself to win. Many amateurs bet on themselves to win in tournaments back then, the problem was if they bet on others and threw the match. He didn't win so no payout. By the way he didn't place the bet himself, a family friend did. Name was Woody Hayes who regularly would get in pushing matches with Palmer fans who kept yelling fat jack..I believe he also coached the Ohio State football team when he wasn't following Jack with Jack's father. I believe that was the only tournament he ever bet on himself to win. Since I see a big $0 behind his 282 score he hardly was a pro. Since he won the 1961 USGA amateur, the powers that be also considered him an amateur. To this day no amateur has come close to that 282 at Cherry Hills

 

Upon your edit, it's the wrong analysis. Had he won, he would have won under the table money. He admittedly gambled on golf to win money, and then was allowed to masquerade as an amateur the following year. That is a much bigger black eye for the USGA than anything that happened at Erin Hills. I'm not trying to be controversial. I honestly believe he should be retroactively stripped of his 1961 US Amateur given his admission.

 

According to the USGA, gambling does not violate amateur status.

 

http://www.usga.org/...g-78282bad.html

 

Shhhhhhhhhhhh! ;)

[Roadking2003]

Jack Nicklaus as an Ohio State amateur finished second to Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills by 2 strokes. He led midway through the final round but 3 putted the 13&14 greens. Ben Hogan who played with Jack later said if the kid had a brain he would have won by 5 strokes. Evidently referring to Jack putting over spike marks instead of fixing them on 4 greens on the back side..

 

Holy hell! You could fix spike marks back then?!

Also, Jack couldn't really be considered an amateur at that stage given the fact that he admittedly bet on the event in which he was playing.

 

They fixed them with tees back then (ball marks and spike marks). Looking back it was ball marks not spike marks, he putted over. Jack did not bet on the event, he bet on himself to win. Many amateurs bet on themselves to win in tournaments back then, the problem was if they bet on others and threw the match. He didn't win so no payout. By the way he didn't place the bet himself, a family friend did. Name was Woody Hayes who regularly would get in pushing matches with Palmer fans who kept yelling fat jack..I believe he also coached the Ohio State football team when he wasn't following Jack with Jack's father. I believe that was the only tournament he ever bet on himself to win. Since I see a big $0 behind his 282 score he hardly was a pro. Since he won the 1961 USGA amateur, the powers that be also considered him an amateur. To this day no amateur has come close to that 282 at Cherry Hills

 

Upon your edit, it's the wrong analysis. Had he won, he would have won under the table money. He admittedly gambled on golf to win money, and then was allowed to masquerade as an amateur the following year. That is a much bigger black eye for the USGA than anything that happened at Erin Hills. I'm not trying to be controversial. I honestly believe he should be retroactively stripped of his 1961 US Amateur given his admission.

 

According to the USGA, gambling does not violate amateur status.

 

http://www.usga.org/...g-78282bad.html

 

There you go. Confusing people with facts.

[Santiago Golf]

In Bobby Jones time there were very few Professionals, golf was basically for the well heeled. I think that there is the possibility that an amateur might win in the future. There are several Pro's who have only been out of college for 2 years that are contending in tournaments now.

 

Justin Thomas just shot 63 and I believe is only in his 2nd year on the tour, he has also shot 59 in a PGA tournament. We are getting more and more real athletes into golf. There might be another Tiger or Jack out there who is under 20.

JT been pro since 2014. Played one year on Web and then has been on pga tour for 3 years

[Santiago Golf]

I think it will happen in one of 3 majors (ams dont play in the PGA).

 

Back in the day alot the best players were Ams because pro golfers didnt make a ton cash. Now they make a unreal amount of money, no reason not to be a tour pro if you got the game