JJ Spaun produced a moment of pure magic at the US Open when he sank a dramatic 64-foot putt to win his first major title. His triumph at Oakmont Country Club not only secured him a piece of golf history — it also came with a huge paycheck of $4.3 million, 20% of the total $21.5 million prize pool. But while that number might look massive on the surface, there’s a lot more to the story once you start breaking it down — from the caddie’s cut to the taxes that come due immediately after the final putt drops.

From this payout, his caddie, Mark Carens, a veteran bagman who turned professional in 2002 and has teamed up with players like Bubba Watson and Kim Si-Woo, is due 10%. Carens was on the bag when Kim won the 2017 Players Championship and teamed up with Spaun in 2021, helping him to his first PGA Tour win at the Valero Texas Open. His calm, insightful guidance, “Let’s stay in the moment,” kept Spaun composed under pressure at Oakmont. That means Carens will pocket about $430,000 for his role in this breakthrough. Caddies typically earn 5% for making the cut, 7% for a top-10, and 10% for a win, reflecting their expertise in choosing clubs, reading putts, and keeping players mentally anchored.

But while Carens’ cut is significant, it’s tiny in comparison to what the US Government is about to take from Spaun’s paycheck.

With nearly 40.07% of his earnings going toward federal and state taxes, Spaun is expected to pay about $1.7 million to the US and state authorities. The federal rate stands at 37%, adding up to $1,591,000, while the state of Pennsylvania, where the US Open was held, charges a 3.07% state income tax amounting to $132,010.

So, although Spaun won $4.3M on the course, nearly $1.73M of it will disappear immediately in taxes, a dramatic cut that far exceeds what his caddie earned for guiding him to a major title. Here’s how the payout breaks down:

• Winner’s payout: $4.3M
• Caddie’s cut (10%): $430,000
• Taxes (federal + state): $1.73M
• Remaining: roughly $2.58M

Of course, from that, Spaun will also pay for expenses — his team, travel, and accommodations, which further diminish his final earnings. Nonetheless, $2.58M is a huge payout and a dramatic rise in his career earnings, which now total more than $ 22M.

The US Open paycheck is indeed a huge moment for a player’s career, but Spaun’s hefty tax bill isn’t an anomaly; it reflects a hard reality faced by athletes worldwide. Here’s why that nearly 40% cut isn’t unique to him.

Golf’s hidden, tax-ridden financial maze

The US Open is a huge payout for golf’s elite, and the government benefits just as much as the players. Robert MacIntyre, who finished 2nd and earned $2.32M, is expected to pay nearly $930,000 in taxes. Viktor Hovland, 3rd place with $1.44M, will pay about $579,000 in taxes. It’s a dramatic cut — nearly 40% gone in an instant to federal and state obligations.

But, this phenomenon isn’t unique to golf’s majors. Talor Gooch fell into a similar bracket when he won $4M at LIV Golf Adelaide; nearly 47.5% was taken in taxes, reducing his take-home to a little over just $2M. It spotlights a universal reality for players: a huge paycheck on Sunday quickly shrinks by the time the taxman knocks on Monday. Which is why, for many pros, financial strategies have become nearly as important as their golf games.

Phil Mickelson, for example, shifted his residency from high-tax California to Florida, a state with no income tax, in a move that saves him nearly $235,000 each year. Rickie Fowler, a Florida resident, avoids state income taxes at home but still files in 13 different states where he plays. Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia have gotten into disputes over whether their endorsement income should be treated differently from their tour earnings — another legal battle that just shows how messy golf’s financial picture can be. Just like that, for many golfers, the post-win reality becomes a test of their arithmetic as much as nerves.