The PGA Tour is the most prestigious and popular golf tour and has the financial muscle to prove it. In the 2020-21, total prize money won on tour will be over $430 million, including money won in the four major championships which are officially part of the PGA Tour schedule, but are run by different golf associations. The following are the 10 biggest purses on the PGA Tour.
1. Tour Championship
Purse: $46,000,000
Winner’s Share: $15,000,000
Coming at the end of the FedExCup Playoffs, the biggest award goes to the winner of the Tour Championship who is simultaneously crowned FedExCup champion.
2. The Players Championship
Purse: $15,000,000
Winner’s Share: $2,700,000
It’s not a major championship, but The Players Championship boasts a purse larger than any of golf’s four majors.
3. U.S. Open
Purse: $12,500,000
Winner’s Share: $2,250,000
Famed for the difficult course conditions, this major championship has a hefty $12,500,000 purse.
4. The Masters
Purse: $11,500,000
Winner’s Share: $2,070,000
Augusta National’s genteel course is known for its cheap eats for the tiny few who get tickets to the Masters each year. Despite not price gouging on the pimento cheese, the Masters still manages the 4th biggest purse on the PGA Tour.
5. PGA Championship
Purse: $11,000,000
Winner’s Share: $1,980,000
The PGA Championship is one of the four majors and the last American-based major to make the list, rounding out the top-5.
6. The Open Championship
Purse: $10,750,000
Winner’s Share: $1,935,000
The world’s oldest major championship plays exclusively on the classic links courses of Britain and Northern Ireland, and boasts an impressive winner’s share of nearly $2 million.
T7. WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
Purse: $10,500,000
Winner’s Share: $1,820,000
When the World Golf Championship series began, they wanted to attract a field from around the world that would reflect the prestige of a major championship, and with very large purses, they have managed just that.
T7. WGC Workday Championship
Purse: $10,500,000
Winner’s Share: $1,820,000
As the regularly-scheduled WGC event in Mexico couldn’t be pulled off in early 2021, the tournament moved to The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida, and became the WGC Workday Championship. The purse, however, did not change.
T7. WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
Purse: $10,500,000
Winner’s Share: $1,820,000
While the format of this WGC differs from the others - giving players a chance to compete in a match-play bracket instead of the routine individual stroke play format, the purse is identical to the other World Golf Championships.
10. The CJ Cup
Purse: $9,750,000
Winner’s Share: $1,755,000
In a normal year there are four WGC events and the fourth one would occupy the 10th spot on this list. But 2020-21 is not a normal year, and there are only three WGCs on the PGA Tour schedule. That makes room for the CJ Cup as the 10th largest purse on the PGA Tour schedule.
About The Author
Ryan Watson is a freelance sportswriter and history professor. He has been an avid fan of golf since his father signed him up for golf camp as a young child. Ryan enjoys following the professional game and learning about new equipment and gadgets.