The PGA Championship prize money has been increased to $20.5 million, tournament organizers announced Saturday morning ahead of the third round at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia.
The PGA Championship, one of men’s golf’s four major championships, is operated by the PGA of America (a separate organization from the PGA Tour), which also runs the U.S. operations of the Ryder Cup.
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The $20.5 million in prize money is a PGA Championship record and is $1.5 million more than the $19 million paid out last year at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. Sunday’s winner will receive $3.69 million, an increase from the $3.42 million won by Scottie Scheffler in 2025.
Here’s how PGA Championship funding has grown over the past five years.
The top three finishers will all earn more than $1 million this weekend. The lowest place (82nd place) prize is $23,900. Players who miss the 36-hole cut will receive $4,300.
Main comparison
Despite the increase, the PGA Championship still ranks third among the four majors in prize money.
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The prize money for April’s Masters was increased to $22.5 million, the highest in major history. The U.S. Open has paid $21.5 million over the past two years, and another increase next month could equal or exceed the Masters. The British Open’s prize money in 2025 was $17 million.
PGA of America CEO Terry Clark said Wednesday that the organization is taking a “balanced approach” to the rise in prize money in men’s golf since the launch of LIV Golf in 2022. USGA CEO Mike Wang said earlier this month. front office sports The U.S. Open’s prize money strategy is “not a race” against the Masters and other major tournaments.
LIV debuted with a total purse of $25 million, including $20 million in individual competition and $5 million in team competition. In response, the PGA Tour added a signature event series in 2023 that pays out $20 million per event and increased the prize money for its flagship event, The Players Championship, to $25 million. This year, LIV has increased the total prize money per event to $33 million ($23 million for individuals and $10 million for teams).
PGA Championship funding helped the PGA Tour’s signature event top $20 million for the first time.
Funding increases to record $20.5 million after PGA Championship first appeared on Front Office Sports.
