A new race for prize money has begun in golf: winners are already receiving $4.5 million each
11 May 17:55
The world of professional golf is entering a new era of financial competition. Following the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf project, traditional tournaments have been forced to drastically increase their prize pools in order to retain the world’s top players. This was reported by Reuters , as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
The 2026 Masters Tournament provided further confirmation of this trend, with winner Rory McIlroy receiving a record $4.5 million. The tournament’s total prize pool reached $22.5 million, the highest in Masters history.
Against this backdrop, U.S. Open organizers are already discussing the possibility of another increase in prize money to stay competitive in the race for top athletes.
USGA Executive Director Mike Van told Reuters that the organization is closely monitoring market changes but does not intend to participate in an uncontrolled prize money race.
“We’re not trying to compete solely on numbers. Our goal is to preserve the status and prestige of the U.S. Open,” he emphasized.
Van added that the financial landscape of professional golf has changed dramatically following the influx of Saudi investments.
The Saudi Project
Reuters notes that the launch of LIV Golf has literally turned the sport’s economy upside down. The Saudi project began luring superstars with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, forcing the PGA Tour and major tournament organizers to sharply increase prize money.
Over the past few years, the prize pools of the world’s largest tournaments have grown to unprecedented levels. Just ten years ago, even the most successful golfers could not have expected such sums for a single victory.
Reuters notes that this new financial reality is putting pressure on all major tournaments, which are now forced to balance prestige, commercial appeal, and costs.
“The golf market has changed forever,” industry representatives acknowledge.
At the same time, the USGA is trying to emphasize that the history and status of major tournaments remain just as important as the money.
“Players don’t just want big checks. They want to win tournaments that build a legacy,” explained Mike Van.
Today, golf ranks among the world’s most lucrative sports in terms of contract values, prize money, and commercial payments to athletes.
