PGA Championship prize money history
Winning the PGA Championship paid $470,000 in 1997, which is $980,938 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $3,690,000. On the face of the cheque that is 7.85 times as much. In real terms it is 3.80 times as much, 4.7% a year after inflation.
Every PGA Championship winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Aaron Rai | $3,690,000$3.7m | $3,726,994$3.7m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | Scottie Scheffler | $3,420,000$3.4m | $3,558,492$3.6m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Xander Schauffele | $3,330,000$3.3m | $3,556,017$3.6m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Brooks Koepka | $3,150,000$3.1m | $3,463,013$3.5m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Justin Thomas | $2,700,000$2.7m | $3,090,485$3.1m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Phil Mickelson | $2,160,000$2.2m | $2,670,247$2.7m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Collin Morikawa | $1,980,000$2.0m | $2,562,721$2.6m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Brooks Koepka | $1,980,000$2.0m | $2,594,337$2.6m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka | $1,980,000$2.0m | $2,641,346$2.6m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Justin Thomas | $1,890,000$1.9m | $2,582,866$2.6m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Jimmy Walker | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,512,277$2.5m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Jason Day | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,543,969$2.5m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,546,989$2.5m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Jason Dufner | $1,445,000$1.4m | $2,077,835$2.1m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Rory McIlroy | $1,445,000$1.4m | $2,108,270$2.1m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Keegan Bradley | $1,445,000$1.4m | $2,151,899$2.2m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Martin Kaymer | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,073,885$2.1m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Y.E. Yang | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,107,902$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Padraig Harrington | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,100,403$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods | $1,260,000 | $2,035,645$2.0m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods | $1,224,000 | $2,033,807$2.0m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Phil Mickelson | $1,170,000 | $2,006,793$2.0m | $1.72 |
| 2004 | Vijay Singh | $1,125,000 | $1,994,984$2.0m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Shaun Micheel | $1,080,000 | $1,966,187$2.0m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Rich Beem | $990,000 | $1,843,414$1.8m | $1.86 |
| 2001 | David Toms | $936,000 | $1,770,419$1.8m | $1.89 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | $900,000 | $1,750,767$1.8m | $1.95 |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | $630,000 | $1,266,731 | $2.01 |
| 1998 | Vijay Singh | $540,000 | $1,109,750 | $2.06 |
| 1997 | Davis Love III | $470,000 | $980,938 | $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, 2007 to 2026
The 2026 cheque is the biggest here in real terms as well as on its face.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 2007 to 2026
On the cheque the 1997 to 2026 rise is 7.85 times, 7.4% a year. Prices rose 2.07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 0 | 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% |
| 24 | World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play | 2003 | +3.6% |
| 25 | Greater Milwaukee Open | 1999 | +3.1% |
| 26 | Truist Championship | 2003 | +3.0% |
| 27 | THE NORTHERN TRUST | 2001 | +2.9% |
| 28 | Shriners Children's Open | 1996 | +2.7% |
| 29 | Valspar Championship | 2002 | +2.7% |
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 PGA Championship is 18th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the PGA Championship winner get in 1997?
Davis Love III took $470,000. At August 2026 prices that is $980,938.
Has PGA Championship prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 7.4% a year between 1997 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 4.7% a year. That is 18th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the PGA Championship pay the most in today's money?
2026, when Aaron Rai took $3,690,000. At August 2026 prices that is $3,726,994, the most recent cheque we hold.
How does the PGA Championship winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $1,224,000, or $2,033,807 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $3,690,000, 1.83 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the PGA Championship money
PGA Championship prize money carries every champion, the PGA Championship all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the PGA Championship cut counts who made it each year.