Trevor Ng
Golf tournaments offer prize money to participants, which is referred to as a 'purse'. The purse is divided among the players according to their final rankings, with the winner typically receiving the largest share. Amateurs and cut golfers do not receive any earnings, and their share is redistributed among the other golfers. The amount of money in the purse varies depending on the tournament, with some tournaments offering a larger purse and, consequently, larger payouts to the winners.
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What You'll Learn
Amateurs don't receive earnings
Amateurs in golf are not allowed to accept prize money. Rule 3.1 in the USGA's Rules of Amateur Status states that "an amateur golfer cannot play for money in a golf match, exhibition or other competition such as a tournament." The USGA enforces this rule to maintain a clear distinction between amateur and professional golfers. This means that if an amateur golfer wins a tournament, the prize money is redistributed among the other players. For example, if an amateur places third, they receive nothing, and the fourth-place golfer receives the third-place earnings.
There is one exception to this rule: amateurs can keep prize money for winning a hole-in-one contest during a tournament. However, they cannot accept money for winning the tournament overall. Amateurs are allowed to accept non-cash prizes, such as vouchers, gift certificates, and merchandise, up to a limit of $1,000 in value. They may also accept reasonable expenses, such as travel and accommodation, awarded by a competition organizer.
The reason that amateurs are not allowed to accept prize money is to avoid the detrimental impact that unlimited prizes could have on handicap golf and the pressure it would place on the Rules of Golf and the Rules of Handicapping. Amateurs are classified as those who play the game "purely for fun, enjoyment, and competition." Once an amateur golfer plays in a competition as a professional, they lose their amateur status.
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Appearance fees for those missing the cut
Appearance fees are common in professional golf tournaments outside of the United States, such as the European Tour. They are fees paid to golfers simply for appearing in a tournament and are not considered part of the official prize money. For example, the Masters pay an appearance fee to golfers who don't make the cut; in 2025, this fee was $25,000.
On U.S. tours, such as the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, appearance fees are considered violations of tour policy. However, golfers on U.S. tours can still receive large fees for playing in tournaments through other means. For example, a tournament may stage a skins game or a pro-am event alongside the tournament and pay players to participate in those. Alternatively, a sponsor may pay a player a large sum to do a brief appearance at a cocktail party the day before the tournament. While these are not technically appearance fees, they serve the same purpose.
Some view appearance fees as unethical, while others argue that they are an important way to attract top players to a tournament. High-profile players can bring in more fans and sponsors, so their presence is often considered valuable. Additionally, golfers can be used in corporate marketing in a way that other athletes cannot, such as by participating in corporate outings or pro-ams. As a result, many non-golf companies, such as financial services firms and pharmaceuticals, have come to recognize the value of professional golfers as business partners.
While the PGA Tour officially outlaws appearance fees, many believe that they occur frequently on the tour through various loopholes. For example, in 2012, there was a dispute over whether Greenbrier owner Jim Justice paid Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson seven-figure fees to play in his PGA Tour event.
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Payout percentages
Payout structures in golf tournaments can vary, but there are some common trends. For instance, amateurs do not receive earnings. If an amateur places third, they receive nothing, and the fourth-place golfer receives the prize money that would normally be awarded to third place. All other positions below third place are then bumped up by one in terms of their earnings.
Some tournaments, like the Masters, will pay an appearance fee to golfers who don't make the cut. This is not considered official money, so it's not included in projected or official earnings. The Masters cut rule is to include the top 50 players plus ties. In 2025, 53 players made the cut, so projected earnings included the top 53 players. The appearance fee that year was $25,000, up from around $10,000 in previous years.
The PGA Championship cut rule is to include the top 70 players plus ties. In 2025, 74 golfers made the cut. The purse for that year was $19 million. The U.S. Open purse for 2025 was $21.5 million, with the winner earning $4.3 million. The Open Championship purse for 2024 was $17 million, with the top 70 players plus ties making the cut.
The Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club in 2025 had a total purse of $9.6 million, with the winner, Aldrich Potgieter, taking home $1.728 million. Potgieter defeated Max Greyserman, who took home $854,400, the same amount as Chris Kirk, who was also in the playoff.
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Winner's share
The winner's share of a golf purse varies depending on the tournament and the year. For example, the winner of the 2025 Rocket Classic took home $1.728 million out of a total purse of $9.6 million. In contrast, the winner of the 2024 Open Championship earned $17 million out of a total purse of $17 million.
The payout structure for golf tournaments can also vary, with some events using a different formula than the standard PGA Tour payout percentages. The payout percentages are used to project earnings and are based on multiple media reports of payout percentages or official payouts. Official earnings are typically posted within a few hours of the tournament's completion.
It's important to note that amateurs and cut golfers usually receive no earnings. For example, if an amateur places third, they receive nothing, and the golfer in fourth place receives the prize money that would normally go to the third-place golfer. All other positions below third place also get bumped up in terms of their earnings.
Some tournaments, like the Masters, also pay an appearance fee to golfers who miss the cut. This fee is not considered official money and is therefore not included in projected or official earnings. In 2025, the Masters appearance fee was $25,000, up from around $10,000 in previous years.
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Bonus money
FedExCup Bonus Money
The FedExCup, established in 2007, offers a substantial bonus structure. Players compete in the FedExCup Playoffs for a share of the $100 million bonus pool, with the FedExCup Champion taking home a substantial sum of $25 million. The Playoffs feature progressive cuts, with the TOUR Championship being the finale, where the champion is determined based on the lowest stroke total over 72 holes.
LIV Golf Bonus Money
LIV Golf, inaugurated in 2022, offers bonus money for top performers. The individual standings for each season come with lucrative bonuses. For instance, the player finishing first receives an $18 million bonus, second place earns an $8 million bonus, and third place takes home a $4 million bonus. Additionally, the Team Championship carries a substantial purse, with a portion of the winnings going directly to a team operating fund and the rest distributed among the players.
PGA Tour Player Impact Program (PIP)
The PGA Tour introduced the Player Impact Program (PIP) in 2021 to reward players for enhancing engagement and publicity. This program has distributed significant bonus money to top players. In 2021, $40 million was awarded to 10 players, while in 2022 and 2023, $100 million was shared among 20 players. The criteria for ranking include internet searches, news article mentions, and the duration of sponsor logo appearances during PGA Tour telecasts.
Appearance Fees and Additional Bonuses
Some golf tournaments, such as the Masters and the PGA Championship, offer appearance fees to golfers who miss the cut. These fees, typically around $10,000 to $25,000, are not considered official money and are separate from the prize purses. Additionally, certain tournaments, like the Rocket Classic, have their own purses, with the winner taking home a substantial portion.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of money in a golf purse varies depending on the tournament. For example, the 2024 Open Championship purse was $17,000,000, while the 2025 PGA Championship purse was $19,000,000.
The money in the golf purse is awarded to the top finishers in the tournament. The number of finishers who receive money depends on the tournament, but it is typically the top 70 players plus ties. Amateurs do not receive any earnings.
The winner of a golf tournament typically takes home a significant portion of the purse. For example, the winner of the 2025 Rocket Classic took home $1.728 million out of a $9.6 million purse. The winner of the 2025 U.S. Open will earn $4.3 million out of a $21.5 million purse.
