The winner of The 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s will receive more than $2 million in prize money for the first time in the championship’s history.
The Champion Golfer of the Year will receive $2.07m (£1.5m) for winning the championship, which takes place from July 15-18 at the famous Kent links.
The R&A announced that the total prize fund will be $11.5m (£8.3m). That represents an increase of $750,000 on the total prize fund that was on offer at Royal Portrush in 2019, where the champion, Shane Lowry, won $1.935m (£1.4m).
Prize money is paid out to the entire field, with the exception of amateurs, regardless of whether they make the cut or not. The top 10 players and ties to miss the cut will earn $8,000; the next 20 players will be paid $6,500, while the remainder will take home $3,500. A total of 70 players and ties will make it through to the weekend, with the player who finishes last of those who make the cut earning a minimum of $13,500.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “We have increased the prize fund for The Open this year and believe that it fully reflects the Championship’s stature in world sport. As the only men’s major championship played outside of America, The Open has a global role to play and we are determined to continue to attract the top players.
“We are further enhancing the status of our professional championships at the same time as making good progress towards our investment of £200 million over ten years in growing golf around the world.”
Phil Mickelson, the winner of this year’s PGA Championship, collected $2.16m (£1.56m) for his triumph at Kiawah Island, while Hideki Matsuyama won $2.07m (£1.5m) following his victory at the Masters, while the US Open currently offers the biggest pay day of the four majors, with last month’s champion, Jon Rahm, winning $2.25m (£1.63m).