Open Championship 2022: R&A announces record prize money payout for St Andrews

By Ryan Herrington
Given the actions taken by the powers that be earlier this year at the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open, there was little surprise in Friday’s announcement that the R&A is increasing the prize money payout for next week’s 150th Open Championship. The only question was by how much.

The answer? By 22 per cent from 2021, bringing it to $14 million overall compared to $11.5 million. The winner will get a record $2.5 million for his victory, in addition to possession of the Claret Jug.

The bump in pay is real, but actually somewhat modest in comparison to the other three men’s majors. Augusta National and the PGA of America lifted the overall purse at its two events to $15 million while the USGA went higher to $17.5 million.

That said, a move to $14 million, according to R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, means the purse has grown by 60 per cent since 2016.

“We have made this substantial investment while balancing our wider commitments to developing golf at all levels around the world and to continuing to elevate the AIG Women’s Open,” Slumbers said.

The movement in prize money at majors corresponds with the overall increase in purses available at men’s professional events in general, driven in part by the rise of the LIV Golf Invitational Series. The Saudi-backed group has hosted two events so far, each with $25 million prizes given out to 48 competitors. Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, winners of the no-cut 54-hole tournaments, each earned $4 million paydays.

The PGA Tour has also seen overall prize money payouts jump during the 2021-22 season to $427 million, up from $367 million. And last month, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said that the tour would be increasing the purses at eight events by a combined $45 million, with over purses at the six of them moving to $20 million with the Players Championship jumping to $25 million.

Here is the breakdown of payments for everyone who makes the cut at St Andrews
Win: $2,500,000
2: $1,455,000
3: $933,000
4: $725,000
5: $583,000
6: $505,000
7: $434,000
8: $366,000
9: $321,000
10: $290,000
11: $264,000
12: $234,000
13: $220,000
14: $206,000
15: $191,500
16: $176,000
17: $167,500
18: $159,750
19: $153,000
20: $145,750
21: $139,000
22: $132,000
23: $125,000
24: $118,000
25: $114,000
26: $109,000
27: $105,000
28: $101,500
29: $97,000
30: $92,000
31: $89,000
32: $84,500
33: $81,500
34: $79,250
35: $76,500
36: $73,500
37: $70,000
38: $66,500
39: $64,000
40: $62,000
41: $59,500
42: $56,500
43: $54,000
44: $51,000
45: $48,000
46: $45,500
47: $43,700
48: $42,000
49: $40,000
50: $39,100
51: $38,200
52: $37,600
53: $37,000
54: $36,500
55: $35,900
56: $35,400
57: $35,000
58: $34,750
59: $34,500
60: $34,250
61: $34,000
62: $33,900
63: $33,750
64: $33,600
65: $33,400
66: $33,100
67: $32,900
68: $32,600
69: $32,400
70: $32,200
If more than 70 professional golfers qualify for the final two rounds, additional prize money will be added. Prize money will decrease by $125 per qualifying place above 70 to a minimum of $30,950

Non-qualifiers after two rounds
Leading 10 professional golfers and ties $10,500
Next 20 professional golfers and ties $8,500
Remainder of professional golfers and ties $7,000