Yesterday golfer Lydia Ko won the Canadian Open for the second time, but didn;t accept the winner’s prize money (US$300,000) so should maintain her amateur status (she is only 16 after all). She’s won a few other tournaments as well and has turned down just under a million dollarsin prizes.
Who has turned down more?
What is the advantage, for a golfer, of officially maintaining amateur status?
College?
Missy Franklin turned down an estimated $6M in endorsements after the London Games to go swim in college for Cal.
She actually swam in a few meets for her High School team after London. Can you imagine some kid from a small high school standing on the starting block and looking over to see a multiple Olympic medal winner in the next lane?
Yes, it’s a college thing in Ko’s case.
Endorsements aren’t really prize money though. Nor are appearance fees or salaries.
Any projected NBA lottery pick that returns to college would be candidate for turning down the most money.
Again - that isn’t prize money.
LPGA has a 18 yr old minimum (which has been waived a couple of times). And there are very good reasons for the minimum. The LPGA is heavily dependent on “schmoozing” with sponsors at cocktail parties and pro-ams. I would imagine that the parent of a teenager would not be comfortable with her at corporate cocktail parties with alcohol being served.
She is obviously good enough, now ranked inside the top 10 of womens rankings.
Lydia is apparently only playing professional tournaments now. She won the Womens Amateur last year but she did not play in it this year as the dates conflicted with the Womens British Open.
She has made inquiries about petitioning the LPGA for an age-waiver. And if she does, it will be granted.
If we’re getting picky, Ko didn’t “turn down” any prize money either, she entered the tournament as an amateur. If you want to compete as a pro, you have to declare it before the tournament starts.
Fine substitute ‘foregone’ for ‘turned down’ if you like.
I found a list of amateurs winning pro golf tournaments here. The closest in dollar terms seems to be Shane Lowry, who was ineligible to receive 500,000 euros when he won the 2009 Irish Open. Can anyone find a similar list for other sports?