The Open Championship Is Giving Out More Money — But It’s Still the Smallest of the Big Four

What Is the Open Championship?

The Open Championship (just called "The Open") is one of the four biggest and most important golf tournaments in the world. Think of the four biggest ones as the "majors." This year, The Open is being played at a famous golf course called Royal Birkdale.

How Much Money Is Up for Grabs?

This year, The Open is increasing its total prize pool (that’s the big pile of cash shared by the players) by $750,000.

• The total prize pool is now $17,750,000.
• The winner gets $3.2 million.
• That winner’s check is $100,000 more than what Scottie Scheffler won last year at Royal Portrush (where he lifted the "claret jug," which is the special trophy for winning The Open).

Important Point: Even with this increase, The Open still has the lowest total prize money of the four major tournaments. And its 2026 increase is the smallest compared to the other three majors.

How Do the Other Majors Compare?

Here’s a simple look at what the other three big tournaments are doing with their prize money:

• The Masters: Increased to $22.5 million earlier this year (up $1.5 million from 2025).
• The PGA Championship: Went up by $1.5 million to $20.5 million at Aronimink.
• The U.S. Open: Went up by $1 million to $22.5 million last month.

So, The Open’s $750,000 bump is smaller than all of those.

What Did the Boss Say?

Mark Darbon is the chief of the R&A (the group that runs The Open). When someone jokingly asked if the tournament was "making a stand" by not raising the money as much, he said:

“That’s a fair assumption,” he joked.

But then he explained seriously:

• They raised prize money by $750,000 because they believe in recognizing and rewarding the players.
• He said: “They’re the icons of our sport. They have a disproportionate impact on the status and standing of the game.” (That just means the players are super important and make golf look great.)

It’s Not Just About the Cash

Darbon said prize money is only one part of the bigger picture at The Open.

• They also spend more money to make the players’ experience better.
• Players often tell them the facilities, services, and support during Open week are the best in golf.
• The R&A uses a unique model: the money they make from The Open goes back into the sport of golf.
• He said they are trying to find the right balance between paying players and growing the game.

Where to See the Full Money Breakdown

A full list of exactly how the 2026 Open Championship prize money is paid out can be found here.

Summary

The Open Championship is giving players more money this year — $17.75 million total, with $3.2 million to the winner. But it’s still the smallest purse of the four majors, and its raise was the smallest too. The R&A says they care about rewarding players and giving them a great experience, while also putting money back into golf itself.

FAQ

1. What is the total prize pool for the 2026 Open Championship?
It is $17,750,000, which is $750,000 more than before.

2. Who won the most money at the last Open?
Scottie Scheffler won at Royal Portrush and earned $3.1 million; this year’s winner gets $3.2 million.

3. Why is the Open’s prize money lower than other majors?
The R&A says prize money is just one part of what they offer, and they put the money they make back into growing golf.

4. What is the “claret jug”?
It’s the special trophy given to the winner of The Open Championship.

5. Where can I see the full payout list?
You can see it here.