USGA: 'Not a race' for U.S. Open to match Masters prize money

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th May, 13:22 2026

Jun 12, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; Chief executive officer Mike Whan with the USGA address the media during a press conference for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

The U.S. Open has yet to decide if it will give the Masters a run for its proverbial money on payouts, USGA CEO Mike Whan told Front Office Sports.

The 2026 Masters increased its prize money by $1.5 million to a record purse of $22.5 million, with Rory McIlroy pocketing a record-setting winner's check of $4.5 million.

The U.S. Open's purse over the last two years was $21.5 million, with J.J. Spaun taking home $4.3 million for winning the tournament in 2025.

"To be determined," Whan told FOS on Tuesday at the U.S. Open media day when asked about a potential payout boost. "We make that decision with the board usually the week before we play. But to me, it's not a race. It wouldn't bother me a bit if Augusta was more or less the same."

The U.S. Open has paid out the largest purse among the four major championships since 2017.

"It's funny to admit this out loud, but no, we really don't talk about it," Whan said of the monetary difference among the major championships. "... But if you ask me right now what the purse of the other two majors were, I don't think I'd get within a million dollars of correct."

--Field Level Media

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