Buick Open prize money history
Winning the Buick Open paid $270,000 in 1997, which is $563,518 at August 2026 prices. In 2009 it paid $918,000. On the face of the cheque that is 3.40 times as much. In real terms it is 2.54 times as much, 8.1% a year after inflation.
Every Buick Open winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Tiger Woods | $918,000 | $1,433,373$1.4m | $1.56 |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods | $864,000 | $1,435,629$1.4m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Vijay Singh | $828,000 | $1,420,192$1.4m | $1.72 |
| 2004 | Vijay Singh | $810,000 | $1,436,389$1.4m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Jim Furyk | $720,000 | $1,310,791 | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | $594,000 | $1,106,048 | $1.86 |
| 1997 | Vijay Singh | $270,000 | $563,518 | $2.09 |
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, 1997 to 2009
The biggest in real terms is 2004, not 2009: Vijay Singh's cheque is worth more today than the newest one.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 1997 to 2009
On the cheque the 1997 to 2009 rise is 3.40 times, 10.7% a year. Prices rose 1.34 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% |
| 0 | 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% |
| 11 | 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 Buick Open is 6th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Buick Open winner get in 1997?
Vijay Singh took $270,000. At August 2026 prices that is $563,518.
Has Buick Open prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 10.7% a year between 1997 and 2009 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 8.1% a year. That is 6th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the Buick Open pay the most in today's money?
2004, when Vijay Singh took $810,000. At August 2026 prices that is $1,436,389, more than the $1,433,373 the 2009 win is worth at the same prices.
Where to next
The rest of the Buick Open money
Buick Open prize money carries every champion, the Buick Open all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the Buick Open cut counts who made it each year.