I understand that the Irish amateur has just won the Irish Open.

What a blow but he can't collect the half a million Euros first prize, so does anyone know what happens to it then?

Goes to the highest placed professional i believe.

yep thats correct it all goes to the highest placed professional.. which i think is really unfair.. being an amatuer golfer myself i have won quite a few tournaments as amatuer and never got any of the money.. there good enough to win so why cant they have the money..

That's shocking!

They can claim some money, up to £500 I think. Then there are other ways around it where money can be paid as expenses or gift vouchers if they are issued by the national or county union, take free equipment as long as no advertising is involved, receive financial support from a union etc.

There are some situations where you can apply for pro status in order to claim a prize - I was playing in a comp where a car was offered for a hole in one, an amatuer duly got a hole in one, applied and turn pro and drove his new car home the next day!

In fairness though,as an amatuer if you enter a pro event you are usually made to sign a form to say you will relinquish any claim to prize money, he certainly will have had to do that for this event.

yep thats correct it all goes to the highest placed professional.. which i think is really unfair.. being an amatuer golfer myself i have won quite a few tournaments as amatuer and never got any of the money.. there good enough to win so why cant they have the money..

Interesting, so the other guy in the play-off knew he was taking the half a million anyway!

What happens further down then, does everyone effectively move up a place?

Interesting, so the other guy in the play-off knew he was taking the half a million anyway!

What happens further down then, does everyone effectively move up a place?

Yup - I'm sure the cash helped get over the shame of being beat by an amatuer!

Interesting, so the other guy in the play-off knew he was taking the half a million anyway!

What happens further down then, does everyone effectively move up a place?

Looks like it:

What the places should have got. (http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BAEFB93B0%2DEFF5%2D4C05%2DAB 0F%2DFD08D947D944%7D&eventid=2009036&infosid=11)

What they did get. (http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BAEFB93B0%2DEFF5%2D4C05%2DAB 0F%2DFD08D947D944%7D&eventid=2009036&infosid=1)

Wonder who stumped up the 1 cent for Lowry? :P

I'm not going to feel too sorry for Lowry. I'm sure we'll be seeing him turn pro in the next few days, and am sure the sponsors are lining up already.