PGA Championship purse hits record $20.5 million as Aronimink field narrows
The 2026 PGA Championship purse has reached a new high of $20.5 million, up from $19 million in 2025. With 82 players making the cut at Aronimink Golf Club, the financial stakes for the remaining contenders have never been higher.
The total prize pool for the 2026 PGA Championship has been set at a record $20.5 million, marking a $1.5 million increase from the $19 million awarded in 2025. This adjustment represents the third consecutive year of growth for the tournament’s purse, contributing to a total rise of $3.5 million since 2022. The event, currently underway at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, serves as the second major golf title of the season.
The winner of the championship will receive $3.69 million, a significant jump from the $3.42 million taken home by defending champion Scottie Scheffler at Quail Hollow last year. Scheffler claimed his first PGA title in 2025, but the financial rewards for the 2026 victor are substantially larger. The champion will also lift the Wanamaker Trophy, which weighs 27 pounds and is recognised as the largest trophy in professional golf.
Following three days of play, the field of 156 players has been reduced to 82 competitors who made the cut. These players are guaranteed a minimum payout of $23,900. The financial structure ensures that every player finishing in the top 10 receives at least $553,000, while the top 33 secure six-figure payouts. The remaining players will jockey for position on the leaderboard as the tournament moves into its final round.
The detailed payout structure released by CBS Sports outlines specific earnings for each position. The runner-up will receive $2.214 million, while third place takes home $1.394 million. Fourth place earns $984,000, and fifth place receives $820,000. The payouts continue to decrease incrementally, with the 82nd place finisher securing the minimum guaranteed amount of $23,900.
Approximately 25 players are considered to have a realistic chance of winning the title on Sunday evening. As the tournament approaches its conclusion outside Philadelphia, the focus remains on who will best the remaining field to capture both the largest trophy in golf and the record-breaking prize money.
