The Open Championship prize money 2026

Matt Chivers

Here is what the winner banked at The 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale…

Ryan Fox of New Zealand celebrates victory on the 18th green during Day Four of the The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 19, 2026 in Southport, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

The Open Championship headed to Royal Birkdale in 2026 for the 154th running of the sport’s oldest major. Jordan Spieth won the Claret Jug last time the tournament was held on Merseyside, in 2017 for the 146th Open. The American netted a tidy $1.8 million alongside his third major championship, out of a total purse of $10.2 million.

Such is the case with prize money, there appears to be an onus on the sport’s governing bodies to increase the payout each year. In 2025 at The Open at Portrush, it stayed at $17 million. Scheffler won $3,100,000 for becoming Champion Golfer of the Year.

There has been an increase in the Open prize money for 2026, but not as much as you might think. The fund stands at $17.75 million, and the winner got $3,200,000, which Ryan Fox of New Zealand happily banked.

The terms ahead of the tournament stated that if more than 70 professional golfers qualified for the final two rounds, additional prize money was added. Prize money will decrease by $125 per qualifying place above 70 to a minimum of $39,450.

In terms of non-qualifiers after two rounds, the leading 10 professional golfers and ties get $12,900; the next 20 professional golfers and ties get $10,750, and the remainder of professional golfers and ties $9,100.

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The Open Championship 2026 prize money: Previous purses and winners:

2026

Winner: Ryan Fox: $3,200,000

2: Cameron Young: $1,842,000

3: Sam Burns: $1,181,000

T4: Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood: $827,500

T6: Casey Jarvis, Lucas Herbert, Si Woo Kim: $550,883

T9: Russell Henley, Adam Scott, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Ludvig Aberg, Ryan Gerard: $336,380

2025

Purse: $17,000,000
Winner: $3,100,000 (Scottie Scheffler)

2024
Purse: $17,000,000
Winner: $3,100,000 (Xander Schauffele)

2023
Purse: $16,500,000
Winner: $3,000,000 (Brian Harman)

2022
Purse: $14,000,000
Winner: $2,500,000 (Cameron Smith)

2021
Purse: $11,500,000
Winner: $2,070,000 (Collin Morikawa)

2019
Purse: $10,750,000
Winner: $1,935,000 (Shane Lowry)

2018
Purse: $10,500,000
Winner: $1,890,000 (Francesco Molinari)

2017
Purse: $10,250,000
Winner: $1,845,000 (Jordan Spieth)

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What do you make of The Open Championship prize money 2026 figure? Tell NCG on X!

About the author

Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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