Largest Purse Among Golf’s Majors On Line

Phil Mickelson has achieved everything there is to achieve in golf except for winning in his backyard. 

Mickelson will attempt to complete golf’s grand slam this weekend at the U.S. Open in Torrey Pines, just outside of San Diego, where he grew up.

Also on the line for the 2021 U.S. Open? A $12.5 million purse — including a $2.25 million winner’s share — which is the largest among golf’s four major events.

The U.S. Open generates around $170 million in revenue in a normal year.

Mickelson has won the PGA Championship, the Masters, and the British Open, but he’s placed second at the U.S. Open six times without ever winning. He got off to a slow start Thursday, and was distracted by cell phone noises throughout his round.

• At $94.6 million in career winnings, Mickelson trails only Tiger Woods, with $120.9 million.
• In the 12 months ending May 1, Lefty pulled in $41 million in earnings, almost entirely from sponsorships. He’s made nearly $800 million in his career, per Forbes. Again, Woods is the only golfer who’s made more, with over $1.5 billion from his off-course activities alone.
• Rory McIlroy tops the projections for future earnings with an estimated $400 million coming his way over the next 18 years.

Whenever Mickelson decides to retire as a golfer, one option he’ll have is to clip on a microphone and step into the broadcast booth. FOS reported in February that networks are eyeing him as a TV analyst.