The USGA is adding $2M to the purse for this year's U.S. Open, "bumping the total prize money" to $12M, according to Joel Beall of GOLF DIGEST. The figure "surpasses the Players Championship and PGA Championship [each at $10.5M] as the biggest payout in golf." The winner's share will "see a significant raise as well." Last season, Dustin Johnson received $1.8M for his efforts at the Oakmont Country Club. This year's champion will take home $2.16M. The USGA also said that this year's U.S. Women's Open purse at Trump National Bedminster will be $5M, up from last year's $4.5M. USGA Exec Dir/CEO Mike Davis said, "It’s not something you’re going to see the organization way out in front of in terms of promoting this. But we feel it’s important" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 2/6).
CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE: In California, James Raia notes Pebble Beach will host the '19 U.S. Open, and spectators at this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will "be able to notice some of the subtle differences in the course." The ninth hole was renovated in '14, the 17th green "was modified" in '15 and the 14th green was updated last July. Upgrades to the 13th hole "will be completed this spring." The logo for the tournament, which "features a red, white and blue theme, six red and white stripes representing the sixth U.S. Open held at Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress as the symbol of Pebble Beach, was unveiled last June." Considerably more will "gradually change in the next two-plus years before the U.S. Open designates the conclusion of a yearlong Pebble Beach centennial." While corporate hospitality arrangements "are now available," tickets for the '19 U.S. Open "won’t be available on the USGA website until shortly after" the '18 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. (MONTEREY COUNTY HERALD, 2/7).
