Golf's four major tournaments have only grown more lucrative over the years.
That trend should continue when the 2024 PGA Championship tees off this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
We'll learn how much money is up for grabs in addition to the Wanamaker Trophy in the coming days.
For now, here's a breakdown of last year's PGA Championship purse and how it stacked up against those at the Masters, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship:
How much money did 2023 PGA Championship winner earn? Payouts for top finishers
Last year's PGA Championship winner, Brooks Koepka, received $3.15 million (18% of a record $17.5 million purse) for his two-stroke victory at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.
In a tie for second, Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler took home $1.54 million apiece.
The third-place golfer was set to earn $1.19 million; but, in light of Hovland and Scheffler's tie, Cameron Davis, Bryson DeChambeau and Kurt Kitayama each got $720,000 for finishing deadlocked at fourth on the leaderboard.
Two years ago, Louisville native Justin Thomas claimed $2.7 million of a $15 million purse for beating Will Zalatoris in a playoff at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
And, for reference, here's a look at how much money each winner of past PGA Championships at Valhalla earned:
- Rory McIlroy (2014): $1.8 million of a $10 million purse
- Tiger Woods (2000): $900,000 of a $5 million purse
- Mark Brooks (1996): $430,000 of a $2.4 million purse
How did 2023 PGA Championship purse compare to golf's other majors?
The PGA Championship had a record $2.5 million increase to its purse in 2023.
Still, it lagged behind two of golf's three other three major tournaments in terms of how much money was at stake:
- U.S. Open: $20 million ($3.6 million for winner)
- Masters: $18 million ($3.24 million)
- PGA Championship: $17.5 million ($3.15 million)
- Open Championship: $16.5 million ($3 million)
To kick off this year's slate of majors, the Masters had a $20 million purse; $3.6 million of which went to Scheffler for his four-stroke victory at Augusta National Golf Club.
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
