The Open 2015: If Paul Dunne wins at St Andrews he will get just £500 - not the £1.1m prize money

Rules mean the winner's fee will go the the player in second place

Paul Dunne (GETTY IMAGES)

If Paul Dunne becomes the first amateur for 85 years to win The Open today, his name will go down in golfing history, but his bank balance won't be going up.

The 22-year-old amateur from Ireland shares the lead along with Kouis Oosthuizen and Jason Day on -12 after the third round.

Should he back up his incredible performance thus far with another today he could end up lifting the Claret Jug. But that will be just about all he gets.

R&A rules state that amateur golfers must not accept a prize in excess of £500, other than "symbolic prizes", such as a replica of the famous trophy. Golf's governing body states that: "Gold bullion is not a symbolic prize."

It means Dunne would miss out on the winner's prize, which this year stands at £1.1m. That money would instead go to the runner-up.

The leading amateur at The Open also receives a Silver Medal.

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