St Jude Championship purse set at $20m as FedEx Cup Playoffs reach final stage
Scottie Scheffler holds a two-shot advantage over Matt Fitzpatrick in Memphis as 69 players compete for a share of the prize money and a spot in the BMW Championship.
The 2026 St Jude Championship, serving as the opening event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, is currently underway in Memphis with a total prize purse of $20 million. According to a breakdown published by CBS Sports, the tournament features 69 participants, with the winner securing $3.6 million and all competitors guaranteed a minimum payout of $41,000.
Scottie Scheffler enters the final round with a two-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick. Scheffler is looking to claim just his second title of the season, while the battle for top-50 qualifications to cement a spot in the second postseason event, the BMW Championship, remains a key objective for the field.
The financial structure of the event ensures that the top 36 finishers receive at least a six-figure payday. The payout scale decreases progressively down the leaderboard, with second place taking home $2.16 million, third place receiving $1.36 million, and fourth place earning $960,000.
This tournament presents one of the last opportunities for players to secure a significant financial boost heading into the PGA Tour’s long offseason, with only three events remaining on the 2026 schedule. The prize money distribution mirrors the structure of the previous year’s event, where Justin Rose claimed the $3.6 million winner’s share after a playoff victory at TPC Southwind.
The full breakdown of payouts for each position on the leaderboard confirms the tiered distribution of the $20 million purse. Finishes from 51st to 69th see payouts ranging from $49,800 down to the guaranteed minimum of $41,000, ensuring all participants in the field receive compensation.
