Jackson Koivun and Ryder Cowan both finished above Rory McIlroy at the 2026 U.S. Open, but the two amateurs left Shinnecock Hills with no prize money from the record major purse.
Koivun and Cowan ended the championship tied for 23rd on five-over-par, while McIlroy finished tied for 32nd after a difficult week in Southampton, New York.
The twist is in the payout table. Because Koivun and Cowan were competing as amateurs, they were listed at $0 despite finishing alongside professionals who earned six-figure cheques, according to Golf Channel’s full U.S. Open prize-money breakdown.
McIlroy’s payout underlines the amateur gap
McIlroy, by contrast, still banked $128,756 for his share of 32nd place. That makes the leaderboard comparison sharper: two players finishing nine places higher received nothing from the purse, while one of golf’s biggest names still left with a substantial cheque.
For Koivun and Cowan, the week still carried real weight. A top-25 U.S. Open finish is a major statement for both players, and sharing low-amateur honours gives each a valuable career marker even without the financial reward.
The story also shows why amateur status remains such a distinctive part of major championship golf. Koivun and Cowan beat McIlroy on the board, but not at the bank, and that contrast gives the final leaderboard an extra sting.
