Although it’s the famous Claret Jug that all 156 players in The Open field are dreaming of lifting at Hoylake, there’s a decent amount of prize money up for grabs – $16.5m to be precise.
Prior to this year’s Open at Royal Liverpool, The R&A announced that the Champion Golfer of the Year would receive a record $3m first prize, which will be $500,000 more than Cameron Smith won at St Andrews at the 150th Open.
It’s the largest first prize (approximately £2.3m) in Open history, while the total prize fund represents an 18% increase from last year’s event.
First played in 1860, The Open is the game’s oldest Major Championship. Willie Park was victorious at Prestwick that year, but only received the satisfaction of beating his fellow competitors – no hard cash.
It wasn’t until 1864 that the winner was rewarded financially, Tom Morris taking home £6 for his victory at Prestwick from a total purse of £15.
Between 1864 and 1872 the first prize remained below £10; then, in 1873, it went above that mark to £11 for the very first time.
Here’s a look back at how prize money has changed throughout the history of the men’s Open Championship…
The Open Prize Fund Through The Years:
- 1860 – 0 Total Purse, 0 First Prize
- 1865 – £20, £8
- 1870 – £12, £6
- 1875 – £20, £8
- 1880 – Not known, £8
- 1885 – £35.50, £10
- 1890 – £29.50, £13
- 1895 – £100, £30
- 1900 – £125, £50
- 1905 – £125, £50
- 1910 – £135, £50
- 1915 – Not played (WWI)
- 1920 – £225, £75
- 1925 – £225, £75
- 1930 – £400, £100 *first time first prize reaches £100
- 1935 – £500, £100
- 1940 – Not played (WWII)
- 1945 – Not played (WWII)
- 1950 – £1,500, £300
- 1955 – £3,750, £1,000 *first time first prize reaches £1,000
- 1960 – £7,000, £1,250
- 1965 – £10,000, £1,750
- 1970 – £40,000, £5,250 *first time first prize exceeds £5,000
- 1975 – £75,000, £7,500
- 1980 – £200,000, £25,000
- 1985 – £530,000, £65,000
- 1990 – £825,000, £85,000
- 1995 – £1,250,000, £125,000
- 2000 – £2,750,000, £500,000
- 2005 – £4,000,000, £720,000
- 2010 – £4,800,000, £850,000
- 2015 – £6,300,000, £1,150,000 *first time first prize exceeds £1m
- 2020 – Not played (Covid pandemic)
- 2023 -…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…