I made the cut at the US Open... here's how much cash I really made after paying for flights, hotel and more

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

Each year, thousands of golfers try their luck at breaking into the field at the US Open through qualifiers or success on the PGA Tour. For amateurs this year, 975 players battled for 65 spots.
One of those lucky amateurs who earned their way into the field at Oakmont Country Club this year was James Nicholas.
Nicholas, a former dual-sport athlete at Yale University who now competes on the Korn Ferry Tour, revealed the costs that he incumbered to make it into the field at the third major on the golfing calendar.
The 28-year-old, who sits 66th in points on the Korn Ferry, tried his luck to break through the field at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey.
His 36-hole qualifying endeavor during 'the longest day in golf' paid off for him - as he joined Ben James, Chris Gotterup, and Roberto Diaz in making the field.
Nicholas beat out the likes of high schoolers, clubhouse pros, aspiring amateurs, and even those on the PGA Tour to make the field.
The Scarsdale, New York native shot a 67-68 to beat the rest of the field by a single stroke in order to make the US Open for the first time in his career.
But, to reach the pinnacle of the sport in the US comes with a cost - especially when it comes to qualifying.
In a video posted to his nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 128,000 on Instagram, Nicholas broke down exactly what he spent and what he earned along his journey.
Nicholas says the whole endeavor ran him about $2,186. That covered flights (including to the US Open near Pittsburgh), hotels, food at the events, and other costs.
He says that Lexus conveniently provided him with a rental car at the US Open.
Additionally, the USGA gave the golfers plenty of gifts - including golf balls, shoes, a range finder, a duffel bag, and more.
Other things provided to Nicholas included tickets to a Pittsburgh Pirates game and his accommodations for the US Open.
In addition to his travel and competition costs above, Nicholas said he did splurge on merchandise - spending about $250.
Wrapping up his costs, Nicholas spent $315 on groceries for the week, $150 on a tip for the locker room staff, $2,500 for his caddie's base salary and an eight percent bonus of $3,500.
Nicholas says his total costs came out to $7,220. However, if you add up all the numbers in red shown in the video, the math comes out to $8,901.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Nicholas for clarification.
Nicholas reported his earnings for the weekend at $43,544 after making the cut and coming in at a tie for 61st at 19-over par.
In total, Nicholas says that he earned $34,894 from his endeavor after his costs and taxes were deducted.
After his final round had finished, Nicholas says one of his sponsors flew him home on a private jet for free.
So far this season on the Korn Ferry Tour, Nicholas earned $62,679. He'll hope to make more this weekend at the Wichita Open in Kansas.