The American Express prize money history
Winning the American Express paid $720,000 in 2002, which is $1,340,665 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $1,656,000. On the face of the cheque that is 2.30 times as much. In real terms it is 1.25 times as much, 0.9% a year after inflation.
Every American Express winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Scottie Scheffler | $1,656,000$1.7m | $1,672,602$1.7m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | Sepp Straka | $1,584,000$1.6m | $1,648,144$1.6m | $1.04 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | $1,440,000$1.4m | $1,583,092$1.6m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Hudson Swafford | $1,368,000$1.4m | $1,565,846$1.6m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Si Woo Kim | $1,206,000 | $1,490,888$1.5m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Andrew Landry | $1,206,000 | $1,560,930$1.6m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Adam Long | $1,062,000 | $1,391,508$1.4m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Jon Rahm | $1,062,000 | $1,416,722$1.4m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Hudson Swafford | $1,044,000 | $1,426,726$1.4m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Jason Dufner | $1,044,000 | $1,457,121$1.5m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Bill Haas | $1,026,000 | $1,450,063$1.5m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Patrick Reed | $1,026,000 | $1,451,784$1.5m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Brian Gay | $1,008,000 | $1,449,451$1.4m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Mark Wilson | $1,008,000 | $1,470,682$1.5m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Jhonattan Vegas | $900,000 | $1,340,283$1.3m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Bill Haas | $900,000 | $1,382,590$1.4m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Pat Perez | $918,000 | $1,433,373$1.4m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | D.J. Trahan | $918,000 | $1,428,274$1.4m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Charley Hoffman | $900,000 | $1,454,032$1.5m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Chad Campbell | $900,000 | $1,495,446$1.5m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Justin Leonard | $846,000 | $1,451,065$1.5m | $1.72 |
| 2004 | Phil Mickelson | $810,000 | $1,436,389$1.4m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | $810,000 | $1,474,640$1.5m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Phil Mickelson | $720,000 | $1,340,665$1.3m | $1.86 |
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 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, 2006 to 2026
On the cheque the 2002 to 2026 rise is 2.30 times, 3.5% a year. Prices rose 1.84 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
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 American Express is 45th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the American Express winner get in 2002?
Phil Mickelson took $720,000. At August 2026 prices that is $1,340,665.
Has American Express prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 3.5% a year between 2002 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 0.9% a year. That is 45th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the American Express pay the most in today's money?
2026, when Scottie Scheffler took $1,656,000. At August 2026 prices that is $1,672,602, the most recent cheque we hold.
How does the American Express winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $900,000, or $1,495,446 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $1,656,000, 1.12 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the American Express money
The American Express prize money carries every champion, the American Express all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the American Express cut counts who made it each year.