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Korn Ferry Tour golfer James Nicholas, a former dual sport (Golf/Football) athlete at Yale who currently sits 66th in points on the KFT, shared a very interesting look at the costs of qualifying for and competing in a U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont CC. James Nicholas fired a first round 69 at Oakmont and followed it up with a second round 78 to just barely make the brutal cut line at Oakmont, but he made it!
Getting to even compete at the U.S. Open was a long shot for James. The 28-year-old who has spent half the season on the Korn Ferry Tour attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open in New Jersey during the ‘longest day in golf’ where golfers compete in 36-hole regional qualifiers and everyone from high schoolers, to professionals, to aspiring amateurs have a shot.
At the Canoe Brook Country Club (North & South Courses) in Summit, New Jersey just outside of NYC, James Nicholas was LOCKED In and fired off 67-68 to beat the field by one stroke and qualify for his first U.S. Open. The Scarsdale, NY native had a huge group of friends and family come out to see him in qualification but when that came over, the real challenge began: making the cut at the U.S. Open and getting paid.
To golfers who are terminally online, James Nicholas is a well-known figure. He has almost 400K followers on TikTok and another 128K on Instagram. And his latest video following the U.S. Open is a great example of what’s so great about his content… It shows a side of golf that casual fans rarely get to learn anything about. He breaks down the cost of qualifying, what he spent while there, and what he took home.
@jamesnicholasgolf How much I made at the US Open this week!!! Fun making the cut in my first major championship! #golf
James Nicholas Cost of Qualification And Total Take Home Money After U.S. Open
That video went pretty quickly so let’s break that down… He had to qualify in New Jersey which was regional and sectionals which he says totaled around $2,186. That amount included his flights (to the U.S. Open), hotels/lodging, food at the events, and other incidentals.
His rental car was free at the U.S. Open thanks to Lexus, so that was a nice treat. He also showed off the gifts from the USGA to golfers. Those included a custom numbered bag that only the golfers received, golf balls, shoes, a range finder, etc.
He says he then spent around $250 in the merch tent/pro shop. I’m impressed he could keep it so low. I blew out the bank at the Masters this year. James Nicholas then showed how they got a free trip to the Pittsburgh Pirates game where he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
James says his total on groceries for the week was around $315, $150 tip for the locker room attendants (classy), his caddie received a set fee of $2,500 for the week to ensure he made something for his time if James Nicholas didn’t make the cut. But his caddie then got a bonus of 8% of James’ earnings which totaled $3,500 for a grand total of $7,220 in expenses from the start of qualifying through the end of the U.S. Open.
Nicholas finished in a 3-way tie for 61st place at +19. That paid out $43,544 but more importantly, he made the cut at his very first Major Championship. So after expenses, taxes, etc., he took home $34,894 from the U.S. Open and he got a free ride home on a private jet from one of his sponsors.
For context, James Nicholas has made $62,679 during his half-season on the Korn Ferry Tour so far this year. He will now tee it up this week on the Korn Ferry Tour at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open at Crestview Country Club.