U.S. Open Holds Steady With Largest Major Purse at $21.5M

OAKMONT, Pa. — The U.S. Open is not increasing its prize money for the first time since 2021.

But the tournament will again offer a record-tying $21.5 million, the same amount as last year, which is still the largest purse among the four major championships. The winner at Oakmont Country Club will pocket $4.3 million, like Bryson DeChambeau did in 2024 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.

“We want to be relevant,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said Wednesday. “We understand the competitive set. We know that this probably isn’t really about the money for the [winner], but at the same time, we want the money to be commensurate with the achievement.”

The U.S. Open purse was $12.5 million from 2019 to 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely reduced revenue across professional golf. But it jumped to $17.5 million in 2022, $20 million in 2023, and then $21.5 million in 2024.

“I feel comfortable that we’ve been a leader in moving fast and bigger,” Whan said.

Cash Flow

After the U.S. Open, the next closest major purse is the $21 million that The Masters offered in April. The PGA Championship handed out $19 million. The Open Championship (also known as the British Open) hasn’t announced the prize money total for next month’s tournament, but last year it paid out $17 million.

The Players Championship remains the richest tournament in golf. The PGA Tour’s flagship event, held annually at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., has had a $25 million purse for the past two years. Rory McIlroy won a record-tying $4.5 million first-place prize in March.

The PGA Tour’s eight signature events continue to pay out $20 million purses, which they have done since their inception in 2023. LIV Golf tournaments also have $20 million purses for individual tournaments, as well as $5 million purses for the simultaneous team competitions.