Masters Winner To Take Home Record $3.6 Million Prize

Masters Winner To Take Home Record $3.6 Million Prize...

The winner of the 2026 Masters Tournament will earn a record $3.6 million, the highest payout in golf major history. Augusta National Golf Club announced the increased purse Sunday morning as final-round play began in Georgia. The total tournament prize pool rose to $20 million, up from $18 million in 2025.

This year's payout marks a 20% increase from Scottie Scheffler's $3 million winnings last year. The dramatic prize jump comes as LIV Golf's emergence has pushed PGA Tour purses higher. Golf fans are closely tracking the financial stakes as the final round unfolds under perfect conditions at Augusta.

Second place will receive $2.16 million, while third gets $1.36 million. Even players who miss the cut earn $10,000. The Masters remains the most lucrative invitation in sports, with Tiger Woods calling it "life-changing money" in a 2022 interview.

Interest in the prize money spiked Sunday as Americans searched for details during the tense final round. Google Trends data shows searches for "Masters prize money" peaked at noon ET as the leaders made the turn. The winner's check exceeds recent Super Bowl MVP bonuses and World Series shares.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said the increases reflect golf's growing popularity. "We want the Masters to represent the pinnacle of achievement in our sport," Ridley told ESPN. The club funds prizes through broadcast rights, merchandise sales, and ticket revenue.

This year's champion will join past winners like Phil Mickelson, who earned $1.44 million for his 2010 victory. Adjusted for inflation, that would equal about $2.1 million today. The Masters first awarded prize money in 1934 when Horton Smith won $1,500.

Viewers can see the winner receive the iconic green jacket and oversized check during CBS's live coverage Sunday evening. The dramatic final holes will determine whether a veteran or rising star claims golf's richest payday.