sports
U.S. Open purse rises to $22.5 million at Shinnecock Hills
The USGA raised the 2026 total by $1 million, matching the Masters and lifting the winner's share to $4.5 million.
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U.S. 5 million at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. CBS Sports reported the figures ahead of the 126th playing of the tournament. The USGA increased the total purse by $1 million from 2025.
Of that increase, $800,000 is distributed among players who made the cut besides the winner. J. Spaun received after winning at Oakmont last year.
USGA CEO Mike Whan addressed the decision on Wednesday. "Yeah, some of that's just personal pride. We want to be big. We want to be the best. We want to make sure it's life-changing in multiple ways," he said.
"We also are not in a race. We're not chasing. ... We're proud of where we are. I couldn't tell you, and until I get some truth serum in here, how much farther we go in the years to come, but we think it's a measure of how we feel about our championship.
It needs to be significant and stand out. 5 million. 5 million. The Open Championship paid out $17 million in 2025, and the R&A has not announced whether it will increase that amount for 2026.
Sixty-seven professionals made the cut for the weekend. The player finishing last among those professionals receives a minimum of $42,863. Every player inside the top 38 earns at least a six-figure paycheck, and every player inside the top 20 receives more than $250,000.
Second place pays $2,430,000. Third place pays $1,532,530. Fourth place pays $1,074,363. Fifth place pays $894,841. Sixth place pays $793,443. Seventh place pays $715,320. Eighth place pays $640,654.
Ninth place pays $579,815. Tenth place pays $532,572. Eleventh place pays $486,021. Twelfth place pays $449,379. Thirteenth place pays $418,729. Fourteenth place pays $386,466. Fifteenth place pays $358,812.
