Much has been made of late about how much is being made by professional golfers. Discussion around prizemoney payouts have helping fuel potential rival leagues to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Meanwhile, PGA Tour officials have countered by upping their antes, boosting the overall prizemoney payouts on tour from $US367 million to $US427 million. The biggest jump came with the Players Championship, where the tour bumped the prizemoney payout from $15 million in 2021 to $20 million last month. Australia’s Cam Smith won $US3.6 million ($A4.8 million) for his victory at TPC Sawgrass.
Now Augusta National is increasing its prizemoney payouts as well. On Saturday, the club announced that the overall purse for this year’s Masters will be $15 million ($A20 million). That’s a jump of $3.5 million ($A4.7 million) from last year’s total and a record for any major championship.
This year’s winner will take home a record amount as well, $US2.7 million ($A3.6 million) compared to $2.07 million a year ago.
Before the announcement, the Masters ranked tied for third for the most lucrative major. The US Open handed out $12.5 million at Torrey Pines last June, with Jon Rahm earning $2.25 million for his victory. The PGA Championship paid out $12 million in May at Kiawah Island with Phil Mickelson receiving $2.16 million. The Open Championship awarded $11.5 million in 2021 at Royal St. George’s.
Here’s what they’ll be playing for this week
MASTERS PRIZEMONEY
Win: $US2,700,000
2: $1,620,000
3: $1,020,000
4: $720,000
5: $600,000
6: $540,000
7: $502,500
8: $465,000
9: $435,000
10: $405,000
11: $375,000
12: $345,000
13: $315,000
14: $285,000
15: $270,000
16: $255,000
17: $240,000
18: $225,000
19: $210,000
20: $195,000
21: $180,000
22: $168,000
23: $156,000
24: $144,000
25: $132,000
26: $120,000
27: $115,500
28: $111,000
29: $106,500
30: $102,000
31: $97,500
32: $93,000
33: $88,500
34: $84,750
35: $81,000
36: $77,250
37: $73,500
38: $70,500
39: $67,500
40: $64,500
41: $61,500
42: $58,500
43: $55,500
44: $52,500
45: $49,500
46: $46,500
47: $43,500
48: $41,100
49: $39,000
50: $37,800
And here’s the evolution of how much the champion has earned over the years:
1934: $1,500
1935: $1,500
1936: $1,500
1937: $1,500
1938: $1,500
1939: $1,500
1940: $1,500
1941: $1,500
1942: $1,500
1943-’45: No Masters (WWII)
1946: $2,500
1947: $2,500
1948: $2,500
1949: $2,750
1950: $2,400
1951: $3,000
1952: $4,000
1953: $4,000
1954: $5,000
1955: $5,000
1956: $6,000
1957: $8,750
1958: $11,250
1959: $15,000
1960: $17,500
1961: $20,000
1962: $20,000
1963: $20,000
1964: $20,000
1965: $20,000
1966: $20,000
1967: $20,000
1968: $20,000
1969: $20,000
1970: $25,000
1971: $25,000
1972: $25,000
1973: $30,000
1974: $35,000
1975: $40,000
1976: $40,000
1977: $40,000
1978: $45,000
1979: $50,000
1980: $55,000
1981: $60,000
1982: $64,000
1983: $90,000
1984: $108,000
1985: $126,000
1986: $144,000
1987: $162,000
1988: $183,800
1989: $200,000
1990: $225,000
1991: $243,000
1992: $270,000
1993: $306,000
1994: $360,000
1995: $396,000
1996: $450,000
1997: $486,000
1998: $576,000
1999: $720,000
2000: $828,000
2001: $1,008,000
2002: $1,008,000
2003: $1,080,000
2004: $1,117,000
2005: $1,260,000
2006: $1,260,000
2007: $1,305,000
2008: $1,350,000
2009: $1,350,000
2010: $1,350,000
2011: $1,440,000
2012: $1,440,000
2013: $1,440,000
2014: $1,620,000
2015: $1,800,000
2016: $1,800,000
2017: $1,980,000
2018: $1,980,000
2019: $2,070,000
2020: $2,070,000
2021: $2,070,000
2022: $2,700,000
