Pro golfers earn huge cheques on tour events and major tournaments, with their prospects even improving recently. The entry of the LIV Golf has made even circuits like the PGA TOUR upgrade the purses offered per tournament, and there are even other incentives like season-ending bonuses and the Player Impact Program.
Every purse includes a winner’s share, and the remaining amount goes to other players based on their finishing position. Below, we look at the top 10 heaviest golf purses in 2023.
Cash-Stacked Golf Tournaments in 2023
THE PLAYERS Championship – $25 million
The golf community widely considers THE PLAYERS Championship as the fifth major. From 2023, the tournament ranks first with a purse of $25 million, up $5M from the $20M kitty in 2022. The winner’s share now sits at $4.5 million, so Scottie Scheffler must have laughed to the bank after edging out the competition at the Players Stadium Course in this years edition of the tournament.
LIV Golf Tour Events – $25 million
The notoriously wealthy Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour currently hosts 14 events: Mayakoba, Tucson, Orlando, Adelaide, Singapore, Tulsa, DC, Andalucía, London, Greenbrier, Bedminster, Chicago, Jeddah and Miami. Each of these tournaments has a purse of $25 million, with $5m for the team event and $20m for the individual event. The winner share for the individual event is $4m, and for the team event, $750,000 per player, meaning you can win $4.75m total.
Genesis Invitational – $20 million
Tiger Woods hosts his fellow stars at the historic Riviera Golf Course for the Genesis Invitational each year. The tournament currently has a purse of $20 million, with an equally attractive winner’s share of $3.6 million. The 2023 edition saw Jon Rahm take home the trophy and walk away $3.6m richer.
Arnold Palmer Invitational – $20 million
Arnold Palmer continues to imprint his mark in golf by hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitational each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Florida. The event equally has a purse of $20 million and a winner’s share of $3.6m, with Kurt Kitayama emerging victorious during the 2023 edition.
RBC Heritage – $20 million
When Matt Fitzpatrick clinched the 2023 RBC Heritage from at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, he pocketed $3.6m from the $20m total purse. The tournament is South Carolina’s only Signature Event on the PGA TOUR and takes place the week after The Masters in mid-April.
