The Open Championship prize money history
Winning the Open Championship paid $310,000 in 1996, which is $661,847 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $3,200,000. On the face of the cheque that is 10.32 times as much. In real terms it is 4.88 times as much, 5.4% a year after inflation.
Every Open Championship winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ryan Fox | $3,200,000$3.2m | $3,232,082$3.2m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | Scottie Scheffler | $3,100,000$3.1m | $3,225,534$3.2m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Xander Schauffele | $3,100,000$3.1m | $3,310,406$3.3m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Brian Harman | $3,000,000$3.0m | $3,298,108$3.3m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Cameron Smith | $2,500,000$2.5m | $2,861,561$2.9m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Collin Morikawa | $2,070,000$2.1m | $2,558,987$2.6m | $1.24 |
| 2019 | Shane Lowry | $1,935,000$1.9m | $2,535,375$2.5m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Francesco Molinari | $1,890,000$1.9m | $2,521,285$2.5m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Jordan Spieth | $1,845,000$1.8m | $2,521,370$2.5m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Henrik Stenson | $1,549,590$1.5m | $2,162,777$2.2m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Zach Johnson | $1,794,690$1.8m | $2,536,465$2.5m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy | $1,665,790$1.7m | $2,357,083$2.4m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Phil Mickelson | $1,442,830$1.4m | $2,074,714$2.1m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Ernie Els | $1,405,890$1.4m | $2,051,208$2.1m | $1.46 |
| 2010 | Louis Oosthuizen | $1,305,590 | $2,005,662$2.0m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Stewart Cink | $1,221,010 | $1,906,496$1.9m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Padraig Harrington | $1,498,880$1.5m | $2,332,038$2.3m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Padraig Harrington | $1,542,450$1.5m | $2,491,969$2.5m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods | $1,338,480$1.3m | $2,224,028$2.2m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods | $1,261,580 | $2,163,871$2.2m | $1.72 |
| 2002 | Ernie Els | $1,106,140 | $2,059,671$2.1m | $1.86 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | $759,150 | $1,476,772$1.5m | $1.95 |
| 1997 | Justin Leonard | $418,875 | $874,235 | $2.09 |
| 1996 | Tom Lehman | $310,000 | $661,847 | $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, 2005 to 2026
The biggest in real terms is 2024, not 2026: Xander Schauffele's cheque is worth more today than the newest one.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 2005 to 2026
On the cheque the 1996 to 2026 rise is 10.32 times, 8.1% a year. Prices rose 2.11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 11 | BMW Championship | 1996 | +5.6% |
| 12 | U.S. Open | 1997 | +5.5% |
| 0 | 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% |
| 24 | World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play | 2003 | +3.6% |
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 Open Championship is 13th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Open Championship winner get in 1996?
Tom Lehman took $310,000. At August 2026 prices that is $661,847.
Has Open Championship prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 8.1% a year between 1996 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 5.4% a year. That is 13th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the Open Championship pay the most in today's money?
2024, when Xander Schauffele took $3,100,000. At August 2026 prices that is $3,310,406, more than the $3,232,082 the 2026 win is worth at the same prices.
How does the Open Championship winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $1,338,480, or $2,224,028 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $3,200,000, 1.45 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the Open Championship money
The Open Championship prize money carries every champion, the Open Championship all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the Open Championship cut counts who made it each year.