The U.S. Open purse has nearly doubled since Shinnecock Hills last hosted the championship in 2018. Back then, players competed for $12 million. This year, the figure has climbed to a record $22.5 million.

Whan announced during a press conference on Wednesday, June 17, ahead of the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club that the total purse will reach $22.5 million, a $1 million increase over last year.

"We'll play for a purse of $22,500,000, which means the winner will receive $4.5 million," Whan said.

"Last time we were here was 2018. The purse was $12 million. We're back in 2026 with a purse of $22.5 million. We're proud of keeping that pace as well."

The winner will receive $200,000 more than last year. In 2025, J. J. Spaun won $4.3 million for his victory at Oakmont Country Club. The tournament's total prize fund is now $22.5 million, the same as the Masters Tournament.

When asked if the Masters' purse increase influenced the USGA's decision, Whan acknowledged competitive pride before noting the USGA sets its own pace.

"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."

He added that the figure reflects how the USGA views its own championship. "We think it's a measure of how we feel about our championship. It needs to be significant and stand out. We think $22.5 [million] does."

The increase mirrors a broader trend across golf's majors, with the PGA Championship also raising its purse from $19 million to $20.5 million this year, while winner Aaron Rai earned $3.69 million.

The Open Championship paid out $17 million last year, with Scottie Scheffler taking home $3.1 million; its 2026 purse has not yet been announced.

Shinnecock Hills Marks Its 10th USGA Championship This Week

Whan noted that Shinnecock Hills hosted the second-ever U.S. Open in 1896, when 35 entrants played 36 holes in a single day for a purse of $335.

"This place quite literally defined the Open word in U.S. Open," he said.

The remark underscores Shinnecock's role in shaping the championship's identity as it hosts its 10th USGA championship this week, with 10,202 entrants from all 50 states and 50 countries ranging in age from 13 to 71.

USGA President Kevin Hammer noted the field includes 12 former U.S. Open champions and 23 total former USGA champions, who have combined for more than 1,000 USGA championship appearances across their careers.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav