
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 13, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; S.H. Kim plays his shot from the second tee box during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Jun 13, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; S.H. Kim plays his shot from the second tee box during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Have you ever questioned how the best players split the prize money and what it requires to win a competitive golf match? The prestigious Club de Golf de Panama in Panama City is hosting the Panama Championship 2025 from January 30 to February 2 on a 7,534-yard course that was created by Jay Riviere and Charles Schaeffer.
For many years, the Panama Championship has been a prominent tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour, drawing up-and-coming players hoping to establish themselves in the professional golf world. With a competitive field and an impressive prize fund, the 2025 edition is no different.
Players will be challenged by the par 70 in the four-day tournament. Let’s explore the tournament’s details this year, including the prize money distribution and the list of contestants vying for victory.
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Analyzing the prize money split of Panama Championship 2025
The winner’s share will be $180,000, which is the regular 18 percent payment based on the Korn Ferry Tour’s prize money distribution system. The overall prize pool for the Panama Championship 2025 is set at $1,000,000, retaining the standard purse for this tournament. The cash prize is distributed in an organized way, compensating players according to their final rankings. The top finishers receive their share of the prize money as follows:
POSITION | MONEY |
1 | $180,000 |
2 | $90,000 |
3 | $60,000 |
4 | $45,000 |
5 | $38,000 |
6 | $34,500 |
7 | $32,000 |
8 | $29,500 |
9 | $27,500 |
10 | $25,500 |
11 | $23,650 |
12 | $22,000 |
13 | $20,500 |
14 | $19,000 |
15 | $18,000 |
16 | $17,000 |
17 | $16,000 |
18 | $15,000 |
19 | $14,000 |
20 | $13,000 |
21 | $12,150 |
22 | $11,350 |
23 | $10,550 |
24 | $9,750 |
25 | $9,000 |
26 | $8,530 |
27 | $8,100 |
28 | $7,700 |
29 | $7,400 |
30 | $7,100 |
31 | $6,850 |
32 | $6,650 |
33 | $6,450 |
34 | $6,250 |
35 | $6,050 |
36 | $5,850 |
37 | $5,650 |
38 | $5,450 |
39 | $5,250 |
40 | $5,150 |
41 | $5,050 |
42 | $4,950 |
43 | $4,850 |
44 | $4,750 |
45 | $4,650 |
46 | $4,550 |
47 | $4,500 |
48 | $4,450 |
49 | $4,400 |
50 | $4,350 |
51 | $4,300 |
52 | $4,260 |
53 | $4,240 |
54 | $4,220 |
55 | $4,200 |
56 | $4,180 |
57 | $4,160 |
58 | $4,140 |
59 | $4,120 |
60 | $4,100 |
61 | $4,080 |
62 | $4,060 |
63 | $4,040 |
64 | $4,020 |
65 | $4,000 |
There are significant points, advantages, and benefits for the field, especially the tournament champion, in addition to financial gain. The victor of this event, which is the third of the year on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour program, will receive 500 points. A PGA Tour card for the next season is awarded to the top 20 players after the 2025 season on the Road to French Lick. Their cumulative points from the regular season and Korn Ferry Tour Finals determine their priority order in the fall events. Additionally, the Panama Championship winner will raise their world ranking by earning roughly 14.8 Official World Golf Ranking points. In addition to these benefits, let’s see who is competing for this enormous purse!
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What’s your perspective on:
Does the Panama Championship prize money truly reflect the skill and dedication of these rising golf stars?
Have an interesting take?
Examining the 2025 roster in more detail
The 21st Panama Championship marks the end of January for the Korn Ferry Tour. Current Tour leader Hank Lebioda will lead an outstanding field of Korn Ferry Tour talent at the event. Kensei Hirata, who is presently in fifth position, and S.H. Kim, who is in fourth place, will both be joining the field. Both players have finished in the top 10 once this season. Austin Smotherman, in seventh place, and Davis Shore, in sixth place, are also heading to Panama. With eight straight rounds at or below par to begin the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season, Smotherman is building momentum and is presently leading all players in the standings.
With a strong showing at the 2024 Panama Championship at Club de Golf de Panama, Isaiah Salinda earned his first Tour win and started a campaign that earned him a spot on the PGA Tour. Salinda won the tournament by an overwhelming eight strokes with an outstanding 12-under score. He made four birdies and an eagle in his last round, which was especially impressive at 5-under 65. Trent Phillips, Wil Bateman, and Keenan Huskey all finished tied for second place, making the race for second place fierce. On the last day, Huskey had a spectacular comeback, shooting a tournament-low 6-under 64 with six birdies.
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To sum up, the Panama Championship 2025 is a celebration of superb golf that gives players a chance to show off their skills and contend for substantial payouts. The competition is still a mainstay of the Korn Ferry Tour, motivating both competitors and spectators as it develops. How do you feel about this enormous prize for this event? Tell us what you think in the comment section.
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Debate
Does the Panama Championship prize money truly reflect the skill and dedication of these rising golf stars?