Golf prize money has seen a significant rise over the past decade, with the 2025 Masters boasting a whopping prize fund of $20m (£15.5m). This substantial increase is attributed to a combination of factors, including the launch of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour’s efforts to keep top players on board.

• More recent tournaments have seen prize funds swell to unprecedented levels, with the Masters’ prize money doubling in under a decade.
• The PGA Tour has been forced to up its game, matching the LIV Golf’s $20m prize fund at its signature events.
• Golfers are now earning bigger sums than ever before, with the top prize at the Masters reaching $3.6m (£2.8m).

The Masters has become one of the most lucrative events in golf, with the winner set to take home a seven-figure payout. The total prize fund has grown from $10m in 2016 to its current level, a 74% increase over the past three years. This year’s figures are expected to remain the same, despite being provisional.

The Masters is not the only major to see significant increases in prize money, but it is still not the most lucrative. The US Open takes the top spot, with a total prize fund of $21m, resulting in a winning payout of $4.3m. However, this week’s tournament is the second richest, ahead of the US PGA Championship and The Open Championship. The biggest prize money of all is actually handed out at non-major tournaments, such as the Players Championship. Rory McIlroy won the tournament last month, taking home a whopping $4.5m from a $25m pot. The winner of the Tour Championship, the PGA Tour’s end-of-season finale, gets $15m, which is a quarter of the prize fund. Inflationary pressures have led to a significant increase in prize money across the game, with golfers now earning bigger sums than ever before. The PGA Tour has been forced to respond by upping payouts at its signature events to $20m, matching the Masters’ prize fund. This move is seen as a bid to keep top players from defecting to LIV Golf, where every tournament offers $20m in prize money. As the game continues to evolve, it is likely that prize money will only continue to rise. The current trend of increasing payouts is expected to remain, with the PGA Tour continuing to up its game to keep up with the growing demands of its top players. Golfers such as Rory McIlroy, who has benefited from the increased prize money, are now earning substantial sums of money from their performances on the course. The influx of new players and the growing popularity of the sport have created a lucrative market for golfers, with top players commanding higher wages than ever before. The Masters has become a benchmark for major championships, with the prize fund serving as a major draw for golfers and spectators alike. The significant increase in prize money has not only benefited the golfers but also contributed to the growth of the sport as a whole, making it more attractive to new players and fans. Golf has come a long way since the early days of the sport, and the increase in prize money is a testament to its growth and evolution. The sport has become a global phenomenon, with top players from around the world competing for lucrative prizes. As the game continues to grow and evolve, it is likely that prize money will only continue to rise, creating a more competitive and exciting sport for players and fans alike. “The increased prize money is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players, and it’s a reflection of the growth and popularity of our sport.”
– PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan
The growth of golf prize money has been driven by a number of factors, including the launch of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour’s efforts to keep top players on board. The significant increase in prize money has benefited golfers and the sport as a whole, contributing to its growth and popularity.

• The PGA Tour has been forced to up its game, matching the LIV Golf’s $20m prize fund at its signature events.
• The launch of LIV Golf has had an inflationary effect on purses across the game, leading to a significant increase in prize money.
• The growth of the sport has created a lucrative market for golfers, with top players commanding higher wages than ever before.

The PGA Tour’s efforts to keep top players on board have led to a significant increase in prize money, with the Masters’ prize fund now swelling to $20m. The PGA Tour’s efforts have been successful, with the Masters’ prize fund doubling in under a decade. The Masters has become one of the most lucrative events in golf, with the winner set to take home a seven-figure payout. The significant increase in prize money has created a more competitive and exciting sport for players and fans alike. “We’re committed to making golf the most competitive and exciting sport in the world, and increased prize money is a key part of that effort.”
– PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan
As the game continues to evolve, it is likely that prize money will only continue to rise. “The increased prize money is a testament to the growth and popularity of our sport, and it’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our players.”
– PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan
The future of golf prize money looks bright, with the PGA Tour continuing to up its game to keep up with the growing demands of its top players.