An increase in the purse size of the PGA Championship was expected. And the Professional Golf Association of America was right on cue. This year’s second major will have a total prize of $18.5 million, a one million bump over last year’s purse size. The $18.5 million is still short of last year’s US Open purse of $20 million, however. 

It is also $1.5 million less than what the PGA Tour offers in the eight Signature events and what LIV Golf offers in the 13 regular events. Here are more details about the purse size and full breakup of the $18.5 million kitty. 

Here is how much each golfer will earn on Sunday

The winner at Louisville will nab $3.33 million. Last year, Brooks Koepka earned $3,150,000 for his third Wanamaker Trophy. The winner’s paycheck, though, will be slimmer than the Masters which stood at $3.4 million. Aside from the paycheck, the winner of the US PGA Championship will also earn 100 OWGR points. The world ranking authority has awarded Valhalla a 483.96 field rating. If the winner is a PGA Tour pro, they will receive 750 FedEx Cup points. Here is the full purse size breakdown.

Players who missed the cut will also earn $4000 each. This year’s increase comes after a $2.5 bump last year. The purse size was just $11 million six years ago and $12 million even three years ago. The massive hike within a decade is part of a growing trend in professional golf. 

How has the PGA Championship purse changed over the years

The last time the PGA Championship was played in Valhalla, Rory McIlroy nabbed $1.8 million from the $10 million on offer. Before that, in 2000, Tiger Woods earned a $900,000 paycheck. The purse was set at $5 million. Four years prior, the 1996 PGA Championship, the first to be held at Valhalla, had a prize pool of $2.4 million, almost a million less than what the winner will pocket this Sunday. 

The purse size of the men’s tournament has witnessed a significant bump since LIV Golf’s inception. The PGA Tour, in its bid to compete with the PIF-funded side, has introduced eight limited-field signature events, with a $20 million purse. The hike in prize money has also been witnessed in regular tournaments as well. 

The four majors, being the most prestigious events in men’s professional golf, have tried to keep up with the trend. Three years ago at Kiawah Island, 156 players battled for their share of the $12.5 million purse. Within three years, it has increased by almost 50%. The $2.16 million paycheck at the Ocean Course was the largest in Phil Mickelson’s career. 

It won’t be the case for some players vying for the Wanamaker trophy this year. Bryson DeChambeau has won twice since joining LIV Golf in 2022. Rory McIlroy nabbed $3.6 million last week at Quail Hollow. Viktor Hovland earned $18 million, $500,000 less than the purse size at Valhalla, last August at the Tour Championship. However, if anyone among Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Shane Lowry holds onto the momentum in the final round, they can surely look forward to earning their biggest paycheck.