PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The R&A is following the USGA’s lead and holding steady on prize money for its flagship event.
For the first time since 2012, the Open Championship is not increasing its purse from the previous year. The total payouts will total $17 million, with the winner receiving $3.1 million. The U.S. Open at Oakmont also kept its similar payout from 2024.
The majors have been experiencing an annual jump in their allotments, particularly in the LIV Golf era. This year the Masters increased its payouts by $1 million (for $21 million purse), and the PGA Championship cracked $19 million this year thanks to a half a million boost. The PGA Tour has also had to strengthen its payouts, with the Players Championship giving $25 million this year and the FedEx Cup awarding more than $75 million in bonus money.
Last year, departing R&A CEO Martin Slumbers noted his worry that the routine increases were not sustainable.
“We have to make choices if we want to continue to build on the significant growth in participation that is essential for golf’s future,” Slumbers said at Royal Troon. “We remain concerned about the impact substantial increases in men’s professional prize money are having on the perception of the sport and its long-term financial sustainability. We are determined to act with the interests of the global game in mind as we pursue our goal of ensuring golf continues to thrive in 50 years’ time.”
Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.
