Thursday, August 20, 2026

The Masters Increases Purse to Record $21M, First Place to $4.2M

That’s up from the $20 million last year and $18 million in 2023. Sunday’s winner will receive $4.2 million.

The Masters
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Masters Tournament will pay out a record $21 million in prize money this year, Augusta National Golf Club announced Saturday.

That’s up from the $20 million last year and $18 million in 2023. Sunday’s winner will receive a $4.2 million first-place prize, which represents a significant bump from the $3.6 million that Scottie Scheffler earned a year ago for clinching his second Green Jacket. In 2023, Jon Rahm won $3.24 million.

This year’s Masters purse total and first-place prize still remains behind the 2024 U.S. Open, which paid out $21.5 million, including $4.3 million to its winner, Bryson DeChambeau.

England’s Justin Rose topped the leaderboard after Friday at eight strokes under par, one stroke ahead of DeChambeau and two ahead of Rory McIlroy and Corey Conners.

The Masters stays ahead of last year’s PGA Championship ($18.5 million) and Open Championship ($17 million). Xander Schauffele won both of those titles, earning $3.3 million at Valhalla Golf Club in the U.S. and $3.1 million at Royal Troon in Scotland. Both of those tournaments are expected to slightly increase their total purses later this year, too, as is the U.S. Open.

The PGA Tour’s flagship event, the Players Championship, still has the highest purse in golf at $25 million. McIlroy earned $4.5 million for winning this year’s event, the same amount Scottie Scheffler took home in 2024.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Emory Eagles guard Ben Pearce (10) passes around Mary Washington Eagles forward Jay Randall (11) on Sunday, April 5, 2026, during the NCAA DIII men's basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Division III Basketball Star Sues NCAA for 5th Year of Eligibility

If the case is successful, thousands more NCAA athletes could receive eligibility.
First at FOS

NFL Isn’t Happy With Nielsen’s Latest Changes

The league is amplifying efforts to work with other audience-measurement firms.

Buss Family Drama Won’t Stop Lakers Sale to Iger and Kushner

Sources say the deal is unaffected by the Buss family dispute.

LIV Golf CEO: ‘I Hope We Can’ Pay Unpaid Vendors

Lawsuits over missed payments are piling up.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

8/20/26 -McAfee Joins ESPN’s ‘MNC,’ Walter’s $17B Problem, Bueckers-Fudd Go Public

0:00

Featured Today

Trendy Golf Hat Divide Is More Than a Fashion Fight

As golf has gotten trendier, so has the sport’s style.
Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes
August 6, 2026

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
August 6, 2026

Tom Brady Explains His Aggressive Push Into Trading Cards

Brady talked to FOS about his eponymous card company.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action
August 5, 2026

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
WPBL
July 30, 2026

Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?

Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
Golf - LIV Golf - United Kingdom - JCB Golf and Country Club, Uttoxeter, Britain - July 26, 2026 Legion XIII's Tyrrell Hatton hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during the final round
August 18, 2026

LIV Golf Cuts $30M in Prize Money From End of Season

LIV’s events in Indianapolis and Michigan were supposed to pay out $70.1 million.
August 18, 2026

WNBA Taps Golden State as 2027 All-Star Host

Chicago hosted the event this year, when it was the lone bidder.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
August 17, 2026

WNBA: Fans Were Erroneously Told to Cover XX-XY Athletics T-Shirts

It marks the latest flash point in fan-involved incidents for the WNBA.
August 17, 2026

Mark Walter in Talks to Sell Chelsea Stake Amid Federal Probe

Walter agreed to sell the Lakers just last week.
August 17, 2026

Tennis Players Await US Open Purse Before Deciding on Protest

The US Open hasn’t yet announced how prize money will be allocated.
August 17, 2026

LIV Golf Finally Cancels Its $40M Michigan Finale

This week’s tournament in Indianapolis will be LIV’s season finale.