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This past weekend at the illustrious Masters in Augusta, the 60 golfers who made the final cuts competed for a share of the purse. Augusta National Golf Club announced on Saturday a record $21 million payout, its third increase in as many years.
The Players Championship remains the highest-paying purse among PGA events at $25 million, but PGA events like the Masters are playing catch-up to the massive purses offered in LIV Golf. Even still, Masters’ payouts have doubled in the last 10 years in both the total purse and individual payouts.
Jordan Spieth was the recipient of the Green Jacket in 2015, taking home $1.8 million from the $10 million purse. He tied what Tiger Woods did in 1997 for the lowest total score after finishing at 18-under-par 270.
Woods was the first Masters winner to take home over a million when he won in 2001, earning $1 million as he became the youngest ever winner in Augusta. He’s a big ratings draw when he does compete, but unfortunately, he will be out of this year’s Masters recovering from a ruptured Achilles.
This year’s Masters’ payout nets the winner $4.2 million of the $21 million purse. Scottie Scheffler had looked to repeat his win last year and earn his third green jacket overall, which would’ve made him only the ninth golfer to win in Augusta at least three times.
Instead, Rory McIlroy won his first Masters after an intense, exciting playoff against Justin Rose. The win secured his career grand slam, making him just the sixth golfer to do so. It took close to 11 years after his last major championship to complete it.
Jack Nicklaus has won the Masters the most with six wins between 1963 and 1986, but he didn’t enjoy the big payouts that winners today get. He earned $144,000 ($414,663 in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation) after his last Masters win in 1986 and has a total of $748,359 ($2,186,211 today) in career earnings at the Masters.
Phil Mickelson is the all-time leader in Masters’ career earnings with $9,845,317 in 31 career starts.
The last 10 years
Here are the total purse and winner’s share of the Masters over the last 10 years. The data was compiled by Golf Digest, CBS Sports, and Today’s Golfer.
| Year | Champion | Winner’s Share | Total Purse |
| 2025 | Rory McIlroy | $4,200,000 | $21,000,000 |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | $3,600,000 | $20,000,000 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | $3,240,000 | $18,000,000 |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | $2,700,000 | $15,000,000 |
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama | $2,070,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson | $2,070,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 2019 | Tiger Woods | $2,070,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 2018 | Patrick Reed | $1,980,000 | $11,000,000 |
| 2017 | Sergio García | $1,980,000 | $11,000,000 |
| 2016 | Danny Willett | $1,800,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | $1,800,000 | $10,000,000 |
