2026 U.S. Senior Open prize money: Every Scioto payout
Padraig Harrington claimed the $800,000 winner's share at the 2026 U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, from a $4 million purse. Stewart Cink earned $432,000 as runner-up in the latest chapter of their senior major rivalry. Every professional who made the cut received an official payout at the senior open 2026, while 79 who missed the cut got a $4,000 stipend.
There was serious money on the line when the championship concluded at Scioto. Harrington's victory also pushed his PGA Tour Champions career earnings past $10 million, to $10,471,366 in 73 starts, according to Yahoo Sports UK payout reporting.
Key Takeaways
- Padraig Harrington won $800,000 from the $4 million total prize fund at Scioto Country Club.
- Stewart Cink took home $432,000 as runner-up after entering the final round with a one-stroke lead.
- George McNeill ($181,376), Ian Poulter ($151,068), and tied finishers including Retief Goosen and Paul Stankowski ($120,956 each) were among the top earners.
- Seventy-nine professionals who missed the cut received a $4,000 stipend.
- Both Harrington and Cink entered Sunday chasing rare three-peat milestones at the 46th U.S. Senior Open.
Who won the biggest paycheck at the senior open 2026?
Padraig Harrington topped the payout sheet with $800,000 after finishing at 12 under, according to Yahoo Sports UK. That was the largest single check from the $4 million fund distributed to professionals who completed the event at Scioto Country Club.
The payout capped a dramatic final round at the 46th U.S. Senior Open. Harrington began Sunday one stroke behind Cink, who had tied the low round in a USGA event at Scioto with a bogey-free 64 on Saturday to reach nine under through 54 holes, per Golf Digest.
How much did Stewart Cink and other top finishers earn?
Cink settled for $432,000 in second place. George McNeill earned $181,376, Ian Poulter received $151,068, and Retief Goosen and Paul Stankowski each collected $120,956 from tied positions deeper on the board, per Yahoo Sports UK.
Further down the payout list, Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez each earned $89,948, while Ernie Els was among a group paid $70,600. Even players well outside the spotlight collected meaningful checks, with amounts tapering toward roughly $7,700 for those at the bottom of the made-cut field. For broader context on athlete earnings, see our Net Worth & Wealth coverage.
What happened to players who missed the cut?
Not everyone shared in the main prize pool. Yahoo Sports UK reported that 79 professional golfers who failed to make the cut were issued a $4,000 stipend. That payment applied to pros who completed the event without reaching the weekend rounds at Scioto.
Players who made the cut and completed the championship received payouts tied to their final leaderboard positions, with the full $4 million fund distributed across the field.
Why did the Scioto purse carry extra historical weight?
Before Sunday's final round, Golf Digest noted that Cink was chasing an unprecedented third straight senior major title, while defending champion Harrington was vying to win his third U.S. Senior Open and match Miller Barber's record. Harrington had defeated Cink by one stroke at The Broadmoor a year earlier, setting up another high-stakes duel for the $800,000 top prize.
Harrington ultimately claimed the winner's check, pushing his PGA Tour Champions career earnings past $10 million. The result underscored how lucrative the U.S. Senior Open remains for the sport's most decorated names, with additional payout coverage available from Golf Monthly.