The Masters announced a $22.5 million prize purse for 2026 on Saturday, with the winner set to take home $4.5 million. That pushes the top check above last year’s $4.2 million winner’s payout and keeps Augusta National’s tournament atop golf’s four majors in prize money.
The runner-up is set to earn $2.43 million, while third place will receive $1.53 million and fourth place $1.08 million. The top four finishers will each make at least $1 million, and all professionals who miss the cut will still collect $25,000.
The number lands in the middle of a Masters week already defined by Rory McIlroy’s lead. He entered the third round on Saturday with a six-stroke edge over Patrick Reed and Sam Burns, chasing a second straight title at Augusta National and a feat only three other players have managed. Tiger Woods was the last to do it, winning back-to-back Masters titles in 2001 and 2002.
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The new purse also keeps pace with a sport that has seen elite events push prize money higher in recent years. Cameron Young won $4.5 million for capturing THE PLAYERS Championship last month from a $25 million overall purse. In 2025, the PGA Championship’s prize fund was $19 million, the Open Championship’s was $17 million and the U.S. Open’s was $21.5 million, though the other three majors had not yet announced their 2026 prize funds.
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If McIlroy holds on and wins again Sunday, he will leave Augusta with the same $4.5 million first prize that now defines the Masters payout 2026. For everyone else, the figures say the week is already a financial high point before the final putt drops.
