The Open prize money: How much every player will earn in 2026 revealed
The Open begins on Thursday, and here is a full breakdown of the prize money available for golf's final major of 2026.
156 players will converge on Southport's iconic Royal Birkdale course for four days of exciting action, and several golfers will feel confident in their chances of getting their hands on the coveted Claret Jug.
Scottie Scheffler is the reigning champion after claiming his first Open title at Royal Portrush, and he's widely considered the favourite to lift back-to-back titles for the first time since Padraig Harrington in 2008.
The world No.1 enters this tournament with the ambition of equalling Harrington's feat and winning his first major of 2026, while Rory McIlroy is looking for his second.
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McIlroy won successive Masters titles in April, becoming only the fourth player to do so in history after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. But how much money could the likes of Scheffler and McIlroy earn if they were to emerge victorious come Sunday? Here's the lowdown...
READ MORE: Bryson DeChambeau's dismal Open record exposed after verbal attack from Sir Nick Faldo
What prize money is on offer at The Open 2026?
A record $17.75million (£13.3million) is the total prize pool available at The Open, an increase of $750,000 (£560,000) from the 2025 tournament at Royal Portrush.
The winner will receive a prize of $3.2m (£2.4m), while players who finish in the top three will receive over $1.1m (£820,000) each.
A top-seven finish, meanwhile, guarantees a prize north of $500,000 (£372,900) each.
The Open prize money (top 70)
- $3,200,000 (£2,386,700)
- $1,842,000 (£1,373,800)
- $1,181,000 (£880,800)
- $917,000 (£683,900)
- $738,000 (£550,400)
- $639,700 (£477,100)
- $549,700 (£410,000)
- $463,250 (£345,500)
- $406,200 (£303,000)
- $367,000 (£273,700)
- $334,200 (£249,300)
- $296,000 (£220,800)
- $278,500 (£207,700)
- $260,700 (£194,400)
- $241,900 (£180,400)
- $222,700 (£166,100)
- $212,000 (£158,100)
- $202,000 (£150,700)
- $193,600 (£144,400)
- $184,500 (£137,600)
- $175,900 (£131,200)
- $167,100 (£124,600)
- $158,100 (£117,900)
- $149,300 (£111,400)
- $144,250 (£107,600)
- $138,000 (£102,900)
- $133,000 (£99,200)
- $128,400 (£95,800)
- $122,800 (£91,600)
- $116,500 (£86,900)
- $112,700 (£84,100)
- $106,900 (£79,700)
- $103,100 (£76,900)
- $100,200 (£74,700)
- $96,700 (£72,100)
- $92,900 (£69,300)
- $88,500 (£66,000)
- $84,100 (£62,700)
- $81,000 (£60,400)
- $78,400 (£58,500)
- $75,200 (£56,100)
- $71,500 (£53,300)
- $68,300 (£50,900)
- $64,400 (£48,000)
- $60,700 (£45,300)
- $57,600 (£43,000)
- $55,300 (£41,250)
- $53,100 (£39,600)
- $50,700 (£37,800)
- $49,400 (£36,800)
- $48,350 (£36,100)
- $47,500 (£35,400)
- $46,800 (£34,900)
- $46,100 (£34,400)
- $45,300 (£33,800)
- $44,700 (£33,300)
- $44,250 (£33,000)
- $43,950 (£32,800)
- $43,625 (£32,500)
- $43,325 (£32,300)
- $43,100 (£32,100)
- $42,900 (£32,000)
- $42,700 (£31,800)
- $42,500 (£31,700)
- $42,150 (£31,400)
- $41,825 (£31,200)
- $41,500 (£31,000)
- $41,200 (£30,700)
- $40,900 (£30,500)
- $40,700 (£30,400)
Encouragingly for those placed lower down, if more than 70 players make the cut, prize money will only decrease by $125 (£93) per qualifying place above 70 to a minimum of $39,450 (£29,400).
How does The Open 2026 prize money compare to other golf majors?
Although The Open is offering a record-breaking amount of prize money, the total purse is still the lowest of all the other golf majors.
- US Masters - $22.5m (£16.85m)
- US Open - $22.5m (£16.85m)
- PGA Championship - $20.5m (15.2m)
- The Open - $17.75m (£13.3m)
McIlroy took home a historic $4.5m (£3.3m) for his second successive Masters triumph in April, while Aaron Rai collected $3.6m (£2.7m) for winning his first major at the PGA Championship in May.
Wyndham Clark's second victory at the US Open last month, meanwhile, saw him collect the same amount as McIlroy.
Topics: Golf, Rory Mcilroy
Thomas Griffin