The 2026 Open Championship will offer a $17.75 million prize fund at Royal Birkdale, following a $750,000 increase from the R&A. The champion will receive $3.2 million, which is $100,000 more than Scottie Scheffler earned for lifting the claret jug at Royal Portrush.
The increase rewards the field, but it does not change The Open’s place in the majors’ prize-money race. Even with the boost, golf’s oldest major remains the lowest-paying of the four men’s major championships.
How The Open Compares With the Other Majors
| Championship | 2026 Purse | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | $17.75 million | $750,000 |
| The Masters | $22.5 million | $1.5 million |
| PGA Championship | $20.5 million | $1.5 million |
| U.S. Open | $22.5 million | $1 million |
The Masters raised its purse to $22.5 million earlier this year, while the PGA Championship increased its total purse to $20.5 million at Aronimink. The U.S. Open also moved to $22.5 million after adding $1 million to its prize fund.
Asked whether the latest increase represented a stand by the tournament, R&A chief Mark Darbon replied with a joke before outlining the organization’s approach. “No, we’ve increased our prize money this year up by three-quarters of a million — We are big believers in recognizing and rewarding the players,” Darbon said during a Wednesday press conference, according to www.golfchannel.com.
Darbon described players as “the icons of our sport” and said they have a major influence on golf’s status and standing. He also framed prize money as only one element of what competitors receive during Open Championship week.
Player Experience Remains Part of the R&A’s Case
The R&A has continued to invest in facilities, services and support for players at The Open, Darbon said. He added that competitors regularly tell the organization that the tournament’s player experience sets a benchmark across golf.
“So prize money is but one component of that comparison,” Darbon said. “At the same time, we’re trying to find a model that gets the balance right.”
That balance includes the R&A’s model of putting proceeds generated by the Open Championship back into the sport. Darbon said the organization considers that reinvestment important while it continues to raise the tournament’s financial rewards.