US Open player confirms how much he had to pay to play at Oakmont and the profit he made after making the cut

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Oakmont proved to be a relentless and unforgiving test for all of the players at the US Open last week.

Eventual US Open winner J.J. Spaun was the only player to end the week at Oakmont under par.

Spaun won the US Open at Oakmont after shooting rounds of 66, 72, 69, 72.

The Henry Fownes design was a real brute of a golf course, with the score average for the entire four rounds coming out at 74.18.

The USGA has actually received criticism from some fans and analysts after the overly punishing setup at Oakmont.

Overall, it was a very strong test of golf, but the rough around the bunkers was a strange setup flaw from the USGA, there’s no doubt about that.

What is the point in having bunkers around the course if balls are prevented from rolling into them?

However, one man who finished well down the field in the US Open will have no complaints at all after leaving Oakmont.

Qualifier James Nicholas reveals how much playing the US Open cost him

What a week it was for Nicholas at Oakmont.

Not many people will be familiar with the name, but last week at the US Open was a vitally important one for him.

He ended the week at Oakmont in a tie for 61st place, after shooting scores of 69, 78, 75 and 77.

Nicholas finished up at 19-over par – a fine effort at an incredibly difficult golf course.

However, what was the process like from start to finish for him?

Nicholas made it through local qualifying back in May after shooting a 65 at Noyac Golf Club, in Sag Harbor, New York.

He then shot 67-68 one month later during final qualifying at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, and subsequently booked his ticket to Oakmont.

The entire process from start to finish is a fairly costly one.

Including caddie fees, groceries and accommodation, Nicholas spent close to $9,000.

However, the $43,544 cheque he received for finishing in a tie for 61st certainly made it a worthwhile week for him.

Everything you need to know about James Nicholas

Nicholas was born in New York and attended Yale University.

He turned pro in 2019, before playing numerous tours including the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

Nicholas has also played in the odd PGA Tour event here and there throughout his career to date, with six starts to his name.

During those appearances, Nicholas has zero top-10s to his name, and he has made only two cuts, with one of those coming at the US Open of course.

Nicholas may not have received much adulation from golf fans for finishing in a tie for 61st at the US Open, but it certainly meant the world to him.

And a tidy little $34,894 profit will go a long way to funding the 28-year-old’s future golfing endeavours as he looks to crack the big time.