The Open prize money rises to $17.75m at Royal Birkdale
The Open prize money for 2026 totals $17.75 million at Royal Birkdale, a $750,000 increase from last year. The winner will earn $3.2 million — $100,000 more than Scottie Scheffler took home at Royal Portrush — while The Open still trails the other three majors in overall purse size.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Open Championship purse is $17.75 million, up $750,000 from 2025 at Royal Portrush.
- The champion will collect $3.2 million, a $100,000 rise on last year’s winner’s share.
- Top-three finishers each earn more than $1.1 million; a top-seven finish pays over $500,000.
- Despite the bump, The Open remains the lowest-paying of golf’s four majors.
- R&A chief Mark Darbon said prize money is one part of a broader player package as proceeds are reinvested in the sport.
How much is The Open prize money in 2026?
According to the R&A and reporting from BBC Sport, the total prize pool at Royal Birkdale is $17.75 million (£13.3 million). That is an increase of $750,000 (£560,000) from the 2025 tournament.
The winner’s cheque is $3.2 million (£2.4 million), up $100,000 from what Scheffler earned for lifting the Claret Jug last year. All players who finish in the top three will receive more than $1.1 million each. A top-seven finish guarantees more than $500,000.
Prize money is awarded only to professional players. A 70th-place finish is worth $40,700. If more than 70 players make the cut, payouts from 71st place step down by $125 per spot to a minimum of $39,450.
Professionals who miss the cut still earn something: the leading 10 below the cut line get $12,900 each, the next 20 get $10,750, and the rest of the professionals receive $9,100 apiece.
How does The Open purse compare with other majors?
Even with the increase, The Open remains the lowest purse among the four majors — and its 2026 boost is the smallest among them this year, Golf Channel reported.
The Masters raised its purse to $22.5 million earlier in 2026, up $1.5 million from 2025. The PGA Championship also added $1.5 million to reach $20.5 million. The U.S. Open increased by $1 million to $22.5 million.
For fans tracking major paydays and athlete earnings, BlasterPost covers the wider money story in our Net Worth & Wealth section.
Why did the R&A keep the increase relatively modest?
Asked whether The Open was making a stand with its smaller raise, R&A chief Mark Darbon joked that was “a fair assumption,” then stressed the governing body remains committed to rewarding players.
“We are big believers in recognizing and rewarding the players,” Darbon said. “They’re the icons of our sport. They have a disproportionate impact on the status and standing of the game.”
He framed prize money as “part of a broader package,” citing continued investment in player experience and facilities. The R&A’s model, he said, invests Open Championship proceeds back into the sport while trying to “find a model that gets the balance right.”