BMW Championship prize money history
Winning the BMW Championship paid $360,000 in 1996, which is $768,597 at August 2026 prices. In 2025 it paid $3,600,000. On the face of the cheque that is 10.00 times as much. In real terms it is 4.87 times as much, 5.6% a year after inflation.
Every BMW Championship winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scottie Scheffler | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,745,781$3.7m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Keegan Bradley | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,844,343$3.8m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Viktor Hovland | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,957,729$4.0m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Patrick Cantlay | $2,700,000$2.7m | $3,090,485$3.1m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Patrick Cantlay | $1,710,000$1.7m | $2,113,945$2.1m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Jon Rahm | $1,710,000$1.7m | $2,213,259$2.2m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Justin Thomas | $1,665,000$1.7m | $2,181,602$2.2m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Keegan Bradley | $1,620,000$1.6m | $2,161,101$2.2m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Marc Leishman | $1,575,000$1.6m | $2,152,389$2.2m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Dustin Johnson | $1,530,000$1.5m | $2,135,435$2.1m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Jason Day | $1,485,000$1.5m | $2,098,775$2.1m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Billy Horschel | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,037,591$2.0m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Zach Johnson | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,070,645$2.1m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Rory McIlroy | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,100,975$2.1m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Justin Rose | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,144,453$2.1m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Dustin Johnson | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,073,885$2.1m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,107,902$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Camilo Villegas | $1,260,000 | $1,960,376$2.0m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods | $1,260,000 | $2,035,645$2.0m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Trevor Immelman | $900,000 | $1,495,446$1.5m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Jim Furyk | $900,000 | $1,543,687$1.5m | $1.72 |
| 2003 | Tiger Woods | $810,000 | $1,474,640$1.5m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Jerry Kelly | $720,000 | $1,340,665$1.3m | $1.86 |
| 2000 | Robert Allenby | $540,000 | $1,050,460 | $1.95 |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | $450,000 | $904,808 | $2.01 |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | $360,000 | $751,357 | $2.09 |
| 1996 | Steve Stricker | $360,000 | $768,597 | $2.13 |
Today's money restates each cheque for the rise in US consumer prices from the year it was paid to August 2026. The last column is what one dollar that year buys today.
What winning it paid, at today's prices
The champion's cheque at August 2026 prices, 2006 to 2025
The biggest in real terms is 2023, not 2025: Viktor Hovland's cheque is worth more today than the newest one.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 2006 to 2025
On the cheque the 1996 to 2025 rise is 10.00 times, 8.3% a year. Prices rose 2.05 times over the same run, which is the gap between this chart and the one above.
Against the rest of the tour
Real growth a year in the winner's cheque, the events either side of this one
| # | TOURNAMENT | SINCE | A YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kemper Open | 1997 | +13.4% |
| 2 | The International | 1997 | +11.7% |
| 3 | Doral-Ryder Open | 1998 | +10.5% |
| 4 | BellSouth Classic | 1998 | +8.7% |
| 5 | TOUR Championship | 2004 | +8.4% |
| 6 | Buick Open | 1997 | +8.1% |
| 7 | Butterfield Bermuda Championship | 2019 | +8.0% |
| 8 | Arnold Palmer Invitational | 1996 | +7.5% |
| 9 | Memorial Tournament | 1997 | +6.2% |
| 10 | RBC Heritage | 1998 | +6.0% |
| 0 | BMW Championship | 1996 | +5.6% |
| 12 | U.S. Open | 1997 | +5.5% |
| 13 | The Open Championship | 1996 | +5.4% |
| 14 | The Genesis Invitational | 1999 | +5.3% |
| 15 | Travelers Championship | 2001 | +5.1% |
| 16 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | 1998 | +5.0% |
| 17 | FedEx St. Jude Championship | 2001 | +4.9% |
| 18 | PGA Championship | 1997 | +4.7% |
| 19 | Farmers Insurance Open | 1996 | +4.5% |
| 20 | Masters Tournament | 1999 | +4.3% |
| 21 | WM Phoenix Open | 1996 | +4.3% |
| 22 | THE PLAYERS Championship | 1996 | +4.1% |
| 23 | The Sentry | 2005 | +3.7% |
Each rate runs from the first winner's cheque we hold at that event to the most recent, so two events that start in different years are measured over different runs. The BMW Championship is 11th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the BMW Championship winner get in 1996?
Steve Stricker took $360,000. At August 2026 prices that is $768,597.
Has BMW Championship prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 8.3% a year between 1996 and 2025 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 5.6% a year. That is 11th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the BMW Championship pay the most in today's money?
2023, when Viktor Hovland took $3,600,000. At August 2026 prices that is $3,957,729, more than the $3,745,781 the 2025 win is worth at the same prices.
How does the BMW Championship winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2005's cheque was $900,000, or $1,543,687 at August 2026 prices. 2025's was $3,600,000, 2.43 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the BMW Championship money
BMW Championship prize money carries every champion, the BMW Championship all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the BMW Championship cut counts who made it each year.