Did you ever think you would be comparing Lee Trevino's career and Scottie Scheffler's 2025 payout? Trevino played 481 events on the PGA Tour and made 409 cuts during his career. Scheffler, in the 2025 season, played 20 events and made 20 cuts. And the difference in their earnings is more than $20 million!

Lee Trevino's career payout

Trevino won six major championships during his career, claiming the U.S. Open twice, The Open Championship twice, and the PGA Championship twice, while the Masters Tournament remained the only major he did not win. 

Despite that, Trevino’s official career earnings totaled $3,478,328. 

Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 Earnings

By contrast, Scottie Scheffler completed the 2025 season with $27,659,550 in official PGA TOUR earnings. That total came from 20 starts, all made cuts, and six wins, including multiple signature events and major championships.

Scheffler’s single-season payout exceeded the full-career earnings of many past major champions, including Trevino, despite Scheffler competing in a fraction of the total events.

Why does such a huge pay gap exist

Inflation accounts for part of the difference, but recent structural changes in professional golf have played a larger role. Increased prize funds, elevated events, and the financial pressure introduced by LIV Golf forced the PGA Tour to raise purses across its schedule.

Scottie Scheffler does not compete on LIV Golf, and Lee Trevino competed in a period before the league existed. The impact comes from the prize structure change on the PGA Tour.

Since 2022, LIV Golf has received equity funding of $3.906 billion through 2024, with an additional $983.5 million issued in 2025. From launch through 2024, player payout on LIV reached $1.34 billion, while broadcast revenue for 2024 stood at $3.2 million. This funding model allowed a higher guaranteed payout and event purse.

After LIV entry, the PGA Tour increased purses across the schedule. Winner payouts at signature events rose to $3 million to $4 million per event. The FedEx Cup Playoffs payout structure also changed.

At the TOUR Championship, the $18 million figure previously represented the FedEx Cup winner’s bonus, not an event purse. In 2025, the TOUR Championship now carries an official $40 million tournament purse, with $10 million awarded to the winner, separate from season-long bonus distribution.

As a result, elite players now earn amounts in a single season that previously required entire careers.

Lee Trevino vs. Scottie Scheffler: Earnings Difference

• Lee Trevino career earnings: $3,478,328
• Scottie Scheffler 2025 earnings: $27,659,550
• Difference: $24,181,222

Trevino’s career total was earned during a period when tournament winner payout and season bonus did not exist at the current level.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu