Introduction
The PGA Tour is one of the richest sports tours in the world, and its players regularly compete for millions of dollars each week. Understanding how PGA money payout works is essential for fans, bettors, players, and anyone following professional golf. From tournament purses to the FedExCup bonuses, PGA payouts involve a mix of prestige and serious money. In this article, we break down how PGA Tour prize money is distributed, how much players earn, and which events pay the most.
How Does PGA Tour Prize Money Work?
Each PGA Tour event has a prize purse, which is a pool of money distributed among the players who make the cut. The winner typically receives 18% of the total purse and the rest is distributed on a sliding scale among the top finishers.
Example:
If the purse is $10 million:
- Winner gets $1.8 million
- Runner-up might get around $1.1 million
- Third place could earn around $700,000
- The payout continues down the leaderboard, with even players finishing 60th+ earning tens of thousands.
These payouts vary slightly depending on the tournament, but the general structure remains consistent.
Top PGA Tour Events by Prize Money
Some PGA Tour events offer significantly more prize money than others. Here’s a look at some of the most lucrative:
1. The Players Championship
- Purse: $25 million (2024)
- Winner’s Share: $4.5 million
- Known as the “fifth major,” this tournament offers the highest payout in regular PGA Tour events.
2. The Masters
- Purse: $20 million (2024)
- Winner’s Share: $3.6 million
- Though not a PGA Tour-run event, the Masters counts toward the FedExCup and PGA money rankings.
3. U.S. Open
- Purse: $20 million (2024)
- Winner’s Share: $3.6 million
- Managed by the USGA, but counts for PGA payouts and rankings.
4. FedExCup Playoffs
- Bonus Pool: $75 million
- Tour Championship Winner: Up to $18 million
- The richest single payout in golf comes through the FedExCup bonus structure.
PGA Money Payout Breakdown: Standard Tournaments
Here is a sample breakdown of how a standard PGA Tour purse is distributed:
| Position | % of Purse | $10M Purse |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 18% | $1.8M |
| 2nd | 10.9% | $1.09M |
| 3rd | 6.9% | $690K |
| 4th | 4.9% | $490K |
| 5th | 4.1% | $410K |
| 10th | 2.7% | $270K |
| 20th | 1.3% | $130K |
| 50th | 0.3% | $30K |
| 65th | 0.2% | $20K |
Even players who barely make the cut often walk away with $15,000 to $20,000.
FedExCup Bonus Payout
The FedExCup Playoffs is a season-ending series of events where players compete for a massive bonus pool. The top 30 players in the standings after the playoffs qualify for the Tour Championship, and based on their finishing position, they receive a share of the $75 million bonus pool.
2024 FedExCup Bonus Payout Example:
| Rank | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 1st | $18 million |
| 2nd | $6.5 million |
| 3rd | $5 million |
| 4th | $4 million |
| 5th | $3 million |
| 6th–10th | $1.5–2.5 million |
| 11th–30th | $500K–$1.3 million |
Unlike regular events, these bonuses don’t come from tournament purses—they’re paid out by the PGA Tour as end-of-season rewards.
Signature Events and Elevated Purses
Starting in 2023, the PGA Tour introduced “Signature Events” with larger purses and limited fields. These include:
- The Genesis Invitational
- Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Memorial Tournament
- Travelers Championship
These events have $20 million purses and offer more money than standard events, with the winner typically receiving $3.6 million.
How PGA Payouts Are Taxed
Professional golfers are considered independent contractors. Their earnings from prize money are subject to taxes based on:
- Country and state where the tournament is held
- Their place of residence
- Additional income taxes (federal and state)
It’s estimated that up to 45% of a player’s earnings may go toward taxes and caddie fees.
Caddie Compensation and Bonuses
Caddies don’t get a cut from the PGA payout directly, but players typically pay them based on performance:
- Weekly base fee: $1,500–$3,000
- 5% of earnings for a made cut
- 7% for a top-10
- 10% for a win
So if a golfer wins $1.8 million, the caddie might receive up to $180,000.
Career Earnings Leaders: Who Has Made the Most?
PGA Tour money payouts have created some very wealthy athletes. Here are the all-time leaders in career earnings (on-course only):
| Player | Career Earnings |
|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | $86+ million |
| Tiger Woods | $121 million* |
| Jordan Spieth | $62+ million |
| Justin Thomas | $55+ million |
| Scottie Scheffler | $50+ million |
*Note: Tiger Woods’ earnings are mostly from early 2000s when purses were lower, making his achievements even more impressive.
LIV Golf vs PGA Tour: Prize Money War
One reason PGA Tour payouts have grown rapidly in recent years is the competition from LIV Golf, which offers enormous signing bonuses and payouts. In response:
- PGA Tour introduced Signature Events with $20M purses
- FedExCup bonus pool increased
- Player Impact Program (PIP) expanded to reward fan engagement with up to $100M
Payouts in Team Events
Team events like the Zurich Classic or international events like the Ryder Cup work differently:
- Zurich Classic: Teams split the purse (e.g., $2.4M for the winning team = $1.2M each)
- Ryder Cup: No prize money, but players get donations made to charities in their name.
PGA Tour vs DP World Tour and Others
The PGA Tour is the richest golf tour globally. For comparison:
- DP World Tour (Europe): Purses range from $2M to $10M, with winners earning $300K–$1.6M
- Japan Golf Tour: Average purse of $1M–$1.5M
- LIV Golf: $25M per event, with $4M going to the winner
The PGA Tour leads in total payouts and has responded aggressively to competitor tours to retain its top players.
How to Track PGA Money Payouts Live
Fans can follow real-time payout projections during PGA events using:
- PGATour.com leaderboard (includes projected earnings)
- ESPN, CBS Sports, Golf Channel for post-round payout analysis
- Fantasy golf and DFS tools that update expected earnings throughout the tournament
Conclusion
The PGA money payout structure is a key part of what makes professional golf so competitive. Players not only chase trophies and titles but also millions in prize money and bonuses. From regular events to the season-ending FedExCup, the PGA Tour offers unmatched earning opportunities for elite golfers. With new rivals like LIV Golf pushing the boundaries, payouts are only getting bigger—and fans get to enjoy the most lucrative era in golf history.
FAQs About PGA Money Payout
1. How much does a PGA Tour winner earn?
Usually between $1.2M and $4.5M, depending on the tournament.
2. How is the PGA Tour purse divided?
The winner gets 18%, and the rest is divided down to 65th place or so.
3. What is the highest-paying PGA event?
The Players Championship, with a $25 million purse.
4. Do golfers get paid if they miss the cut?
No, players who miss the cut typically earn nothing unless it’s a no-cut event like WGCs or Signature Events.
5. How do PGA payouts compare to LIV Golf?
LIV pays more per event, but PGA offers more events and long-term bonuses like the FedExCup and PIP.