It’s not the most lucrative championship that will be played this year, but hoisting the Claret Jug at the conclusion of this 151st Open Championship on Sunday may be perhaps the most desired moment for some of the best golfers in the world this season. The 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool — where Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods stand as the last two champions — has an even longer list of iconic winners at this venue, including Peter Thomson, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.
The R&A has increased its purse for this year’s event, moving up from last year’s $14 million payout at the Old Course at St. Andrews to $16.5 million, an 18% increase. Still, it’s the smallest purse of the four major championships.
- Masters: $18 million
- PGA Championship: $17.5 million
- U.S. Open: $20 million
- Open Championship: $16.5 million
“Our aim is to ensure The Open remains at the pinnacle of world golf and we have almost doubled the prize fund since 2016,” said R&A CEO Martin Slumbers. “While we are seeing substantial increases in prize money across the men’s professional game, we are fulfilling our wider obligation to the sport by elevating the AIG Women’s Open, strengthening pathways in the elite amateur game and encouraging more people…
