THE NORTHERN TRUST prize money history
Winning the NORTHERN TRUST paid $630,000 in 2001, which is $1,191,628 at August 2026 prices. In 2021 it paid $1,710,000. On the face of the cheque that is 2.71 times as much. In real terms it is 1.77 times as much, 2.9% a year after inflation.
Every NORTHERN TRUST winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tony Finau | $1,710,000$1.7m | $2,113,945$2.1m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson | $1,710,000$1.7m | $2,213,259$2.2m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Patrick Reed | $1,665,000$1.7m | $2,181,602$2.2m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Bryson DeChambeau | $1,620,000$1.6m | $2,161,101$2.2m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Dustin Johnson | $1,575,000$1.6m | $2,152,389$2.2m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Patrick Reed | $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 | Hunter Mahan | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,037,591$2.0m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Adam Scott | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,070,645$2.1m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Nick Watney | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,100,975$2.1m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Dustin Johnson | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,144,453$2.1m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Matt Kuchar | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,073,885$2.1m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Heath Slocum | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,107,902$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Vijay Singh | $1,260,000 | $1,960,376$2.0m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Steve Stricker | $1,260,000 | $2,035,645$2.0m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Vijay Singh | $1,035,000 | $1,719,763$1.7m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Padraig Harrington | $1,035,000 | $1,775,240$1.8m | $1.72 |
| 2004 | Sergio Garcia | $945,000 | $1,675,787$1.7m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Kaye | $900,000 | $1,638,489$1.6m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Chris Smith | $630,000 | $1,173,082 | $1.86 |
| 2001 | Sergio Garcia | $630,000 | $1,191,628 | $1.89 |
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, 2002 to 2021
The biggest in real terms is 2020, not 2021: Dustin Johnson's cheque is worth more today than the newest one.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 2002 to 2021
On the cheque the 2001 to 2021 rise is 2.71 times, 5.1% a year. Prices rose 1.53 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 NORTHERN TRUST is 27th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the NORTHERN TRUST winner get in 2001?
Sergio Garcia took $630,000. At August 2026 prices that is $1,191,628.
Has NORTHERN TRUST prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 5.1% a year between 2001 and 2021 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 2.9% a year. That is 27th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the NORTHERN TRUST pay the most in today's money?
2020, when Dustin Johnson took $1,710,000. At August 2026 prices that is $2,213,259, more than the $2,113,945 the 2021 win is worth at the same prices.
How does the NORTHERN TRUST winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2001's cheque was $630,000, or $1,191,628 at August 2026 prices. 2021's was $1,710,000, 1.77 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the NORTHERN TRUST money
THE NORTHERN TRUST prize money carries every champion, the NORTHERN TRUST all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the NORTHERN TRUST cut counts who made it each year.