They’re playing for history at the US Open this week, a Major championship title being something everyone in the 156-player field aspires to win. But they’ll be playing for a historic amount of money, too.
Overnight, USGA chief executive Mike Whan announced that the overall purse for the US Open has been bumped up to $US17.5 million, a $US5 million increase from 2021. In turn, the winner at The Country Club will receive $US3.15 million, up from the $US2.25 million Jon Rahm took home a year ago at Torrey Pines.
The announcement elevates the US Open into the most lucrative of the four men’s Majors, a title previously shared by the PGA Championship and the Masters. Both of those championships raised their purses earlier this year to $US15 million.
It’s not so coincidental that the Majors would make such substantial moves with their prizemoney payouts. Much has been made of late about how much is being made by professional golfers. Huge prizemoney payouts have fuelled interest in the upstart LIV Golf Invitational series, which paid Charl Schwartzel $US4 million for his individual victory at last week’s debut event with $US20 million given out to the 48 competitors.
On the PGA Tour, the overall prizemoney payouts in the 2021-2022 season have jumped to $US427 million, up from $US367 million the previous year. And the Players Championship still has a bigger prize money payout ($US20 million) than any of the four Majors.
The USGA’s increase for the US Open comes after nearly doubling the purse this year for the US Women’s Open, handling out $US10 million to the field.
PHOTO: Sean M. Haffey
