From $150 to $4.3 million: How record-high US Open winner's purse has changed since 1895
Golf's third major championship of 2024 is set to begin in North Carolina this weekend with the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. This weekend marks the first time since 2014 that Pinehurst Course No. 2 has hosted the major.
A lot has changed since Martin Kaymer won by eight strokes over Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler a decade ago, including the event's purse. Back then, Kaymer took home $1.62 million as the winner from a $9 million total purse.
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In 2023, Wyndham Clark prevailed by one stroke over Rory McIlroy for his first career major championship. His winnings were nearly triple what Kaymer won at $3.6 million from a $20 million purse.
Here's what to know about the 2024 U.S. Open purse.
How much will the 2024 U.S. Open winner earn?
This year's U.S. Open winner will earn $4.3 million, the first time the tournament's surpassed the $4 million threshold.
That's also the highest payout of the major championships so far this year. Masters winner Scottie Scheffler took home $3.6 million and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele took home $3.3 million.
What is the 2024 U.S. Open purse?
The total purse for 2024 U.S. Open is up to a record $21.5 million. Like the winner's purse, the total purse is the biggest so far of the major championships in 2024. The Masters Tournament total purse was $20 million and the PGA Championship purse was $18.5 million.
All players will make at least $10,000 regardless of if they make the cut. Without ties, at least the top five finishers will make more than $1.1 million.
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U.S. Open purse history
Horace Rawlins won the first U.S. Open tournament in 1895. For his victory, he earned $150 (around $5,500 in current dollars). Here are the major milestones in the winner's purse history since that inaugural tournament:
- 1929: The first four-digit winner's purse went to Bobby Jones for his playoff win over Al Espinosa at Winged Foot.
- 1959: Billy Casper took home the first five-digit winner's purse with $12,000 for his one-stroke win also at Winged Foot.
- 1985: The winner's purse surpassed $100,000 with winner Andy North taking home $103,000 for his one-stroke win in at the Oakland Hills South Course.
- 2002: Tiger Woods' second of three U.S. Open wins earned him the first million-dollar purse for the event. Woods earned $1 million for his three-stroke win over Phil Mickelson at Bethpage State Park's Black Course.
- 2017:Brooks Koepka's first of back-to-back U.S. Open wins earned him the first $2 million purse. His 16-under score is tied for the best in U.S. Open history and earned him $2.16 million at Erin Hills.
- 2022: The first $3 million purse went to winner Matt Fitzpatrick. His lone major championship win earned him $3.15 million at the The Country Club's Composite Course.
Who won the U.S. Open in 2023?
Clark won the 2023 U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club North Course by one stroke over 2011 winner Rory McIlroy.
When is the U.S. Open?
The 2024 U.S. Open will run from Thursday, June 13, to Sunday, June 16.