June 20, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
The bigger the better, is what golfers playing in the 2021 U.S. Open are agreeing on, This make the third straight year that the USGA is handing out the biggest prize money payout of any major championship. For this tournament, which is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour the overall purse remains the same at $12.5 million. The player at the top-of-the leaderboard will take home $2.25 million in winnings.
The USGA continues to stay ahead of the other three major golf events in terms of big-money paydays and some of the others seem to be responding by adding to their purses. In May, the PGA of America lifted the purse of the PGA Championship to $12 million. Augusta National offered $11.5 million at the Masters in April. When the Open Championship was last held in 2020, the R&A awarded $10.5 million in prize money.
When one takes a look at the money being tossed around for all positions in the field, it is clear how exciting players are for even coming in at last place. The golfer who does so on Sunday, finishes in 71st place, will earn $22,191.
Looking back at past U.S. Open champions and their earnings compared to this years winner, the money has jumped substantially. According to Golf Digest, here’s some of those paydays:
1950: Ben Hogan at Merion, $4,000
1960: Arnold Palmer at Cherry Hills, $14,400
1973: Johnny Miller at Oakmont, $35,000
1980: Jack Nicklaus at Baltusrol, $55,000
1982: Tom Watson at Pebble Beach, $60,000
1992: Tom Kite at Pebble Beach, $275,000
2000: Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach, $800,000
2008: Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines, $1.35 million
at the 44 U.S. Open, “The Golden Bear” Jack Nicklaus, made $363,955, barely more than the player who finishes in eighth place will earn just this week. Arnold “The King” Palmer, in the 32 U.S. Open made $112,119.50. The golfer who finishes in 23rd place this Sunday will have a wonderful Father’s Day earning more than that. Even during Ben “The Hawk” Hogan’s golf career his U.S. Open earnings ($32,651.66) will be beaten by this year’s 47th-place finisher.
Bottom line: U.S. Open player contended for a lot of ‘cabbage’ this weekend. And here is how much everybody who made the cut earned:
1: $2,250,000
2: $1,350,000
3: $829,084
4: $581,205
5: $484,088
6: $429,234
7: $386,971
8: $346,579
9: $313,666
10: $288,109
11: $262,926
12: $243,104
13: $226,523
14: $209,069
15: $194,109
16: $181,642
17: $171,668
18: $161,695
19: $151,721
20: $141,748
21: $133,146
22: $124,544
23: $116,191
24: $108,461
25: $101,729
26: $95,994
27: $91,631
28: $87,766
29: $84,026
30: $80,286
31: $76,546
32: $72,806
33: $69,066
34: $65,700
35: $62,957
36: $60,215
37: $57,596
38: $55,103
39: $52,610
40: $50,116
41: $47,623
42: $45,130
43: $42,636
44: $40,143
45: $37,649
46: $35,405
47: $33,161
48: $31,042
49: $29,795
50: $28,549
51: $27,801
52: $27,177
53: $26,679
54: $26,429
55: $26,180
56: $25,931
57: $25,681
58: $25,432
59: $25,183
60: $24,933
61: $24,684
62: $24,435
63: $24,185
64: $23,936
65: $23,687
66: $23,437
67: $23,188
68: $22,939
69: $22,689
70: $22,440
71: $22,191
