U.S. Open prize money history
Winning the U.S. Open paid $465,000 in 1997, which is $970,503 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $4,500,000. On the face of the cheque that is 9.68 times as much. In real terms it is 4.68 times as much, 5.5% a year after inflation.
Every U.S. Open winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wyndham Clark | $4,500,000$4.5m | $4,545,115$4.5m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | J.J. Spaun | $4,300,000$4.3m | $4,474,127$4.5m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Bryson DeChambeau | $4,300,000$4.3m | $4,591,854$4.6m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Wyndham Clark | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,957,729$4.0m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Matthew Fitzpatrick | $3,150,000$3.1m | $3,605,566$3.6m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Jon Rahm | $2,250,000$2.2m | $2,781,507$2.8m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Bryson DeChambeau | $2,250,000$2.2m | $2,912,183$2.9m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Gary Woodland | $2,250,000$2.2m | $2,948,110$2.9m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka | $2,160,000$2.2m | $2,881,468$2.9m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Brooks Koepka | $2,160,000$2.2m | $2,951,847$3.0m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Dustin Johnson | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,512,277$2.5m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,543,969$2.5m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Martin Kaymer | $1,620,000$1.6m | $2,292,290$2.3m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Justin Rose | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,070,645$2.1m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Webb Simpson | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,100,975$2.1m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Rory McIlroy | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,144,453$2.1m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Graeme McDowell | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,073,885$2.1m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Lucas Glover | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,107,902$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,100,403$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Ángel Cabrera | $1,260,000 | $2,035,645$2.0m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Geoff Ogilvy | $1,225,000 | $2,035,469$2.0m | $1.66 |
| 2004 | Retief Goosen | $1,125,000 | $1,994,984$2.0m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Jim Furyk | $1,080,000 | $1,966,187$2.0m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | $1,000,000 | $1,862,034$1.9m | $1.86 |
| 2001 | Retief Goosen | $900,000 | $1,702,326$1.7m | $1.89 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | $800,000 | $1,556,237$1.6m | $1.95 |
| 1997 | Ernie Els | $465,000 | $970,503 | $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 biggest in real terms is 2024, not 2026: Bryson DeChambeau's cheque is worth more today than the newest one.
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 9.68 times, 8.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 0 | 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 U.S. Open is 12th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the U.S. Open winner get in 1997?
Ernie Els took $465,000. At August 2026 prices that is $970,503.
Has U.S. Open prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 8.1% a year between 1997 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 5.5% a year. That is 12th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the U.S. Open pay the most in today's money?
2024, when Bryson DeChambeau took $4,300,000. At August 2026 prices that is $4,591,854, more than the $4,545,115 the 2026 win is worth at the same prices.
How does the U.S. Open winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $1,225,000, or $2,035,469 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $4,500,000, 2.23 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the U.S. Open money
U.S. Open prize money carries every champion, the U.S. Open all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the U.S. Open cut counts who made it each year.