The winner of the 149th Open at Royal St. George’s will have more than 2 million reasons to put up with the strict COVID-19 restrictions initiated by the R&A.
In addition to having their name etched on the Claret Jug and possession of the priceless trophy, the winner will receive more than $2 million in prize money for the first time in British Open history.
The Champion Golfer of the Year will receive $2,070,000, to be exact, at the championship July 15-18 at the famous Kent links in England.
The R&A announced the total purse will be $11.5 million, an increase of $750,000 over the total offered in 2019 when Shane Lowry banked $1.935 million for his triumph at Royal Portrush. (The 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID.)
“We have increased the prize fund for the Open this year and believe that it fully reflects the championship’s stature in world sport,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A. “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 10 years in growing golf around the world.”
Prize money
| Place | USD | Place | USD |
| 1 | $2,070,000 | 36 | $60,500 |
| 2 | $1,198,000 | 37 | $57,500 |
| 3 | $768,000 | 38 | $54,750 |
| 4 | $597,000 | 39 | $52,750 |
| 5 | $480,000 | 40 | $51,000 |
| 6 | $416,000 | 41 | $49,000 |
| 7 | $357,000 | 42 | $46,500 |
| 8 | $301,500 | 43 | $44,500 |
| 9 | $264,000 | 44 | $42,000 |
| 10 | $238,500 | 45 | $39,500 |
| 11 | $217,000 | 46 | $37,500 |
| 12 | $192,500 | 47 | $36,000 |
| 13 | $180,750 | 48 | $34,500 |
| 14 | $170,000 | 49 | $33,000 |
| 15 | $157,750 | 50 | $32,250 |
| 16 | $145,000 | 51 | $31,500 |
| 17 | $138,000 | 52 | $31,000 |
| 18 | $131,500 | 53 | $30,500 |
| 19 | $126,000 | 54 | $30,000 |
| 20 | $120,000 | 55 | $29,500 |
| 21 | $114,500 | 56 | $29,100 |
| 22 | $108,500 | 57 | $28,800 |
| 23 | $103,000 | 58 | $28,600 |
| 24 | $97,000 | 59 | $28,400 |
| 25 | $94,000 | 60 | $28,200 |
| 26 | $90,000 | 61 | $28,000 |
| 27 | $86,500 | 62 | $27,900 |
| 28 | $83,500 | 63 | $27,800 |
| 29 | $80,000 | 64 | $27,700 |
| 30 | $76,000 | 65 | $27,500 |
| 31 | $73,250 | 66 | $27,300 |
| 32 | $69,500 | 67 | $27,100 |
| 33 | $67,250 | 68 | $26,900 |
| 34 | $65,250 | 69 | $26,700 |
| 35 | $63,000 | 70 | $26,500 |
Prize money shall be allocated only to professional golfers.
If more than 70 professional golfers make the cut for the final two rounds, additional prize money will be added. Prize money will decrease by $125 per qualifying place above 70 to a minimum of $13,500.
The prize money doesn’t stop there, as even those professionals who miss the cut are paid. The leading 10 professionals and ties who miss the cut earn $8,000; the next 20 professional golfers and ties take $6,500; and the remainder of professional golfers and ties are paid $5,350.