Augusta National’s prize purse has grown exponentially since 1934, when club members had to pool funds to pay the inaugural champion.
The PGA Tour‘s most prestigious event has come a long way since its humble beginnings. What started as a financial struggle during the Great Depression has transformed into one of golf’s most lucrative tournaments, with the 2026 Masters offering a record purse of $22.5 million.
From Hardship to Prosperity
When Horton Smith won the inaugural Masters in 1934, the tournament’s financial situation was precarious. Augusta National was still recovering from the economic devastation of the Great Depression. The club had such difficulty funding operations that it struggled even to pay course designer Dr. Alistair McKenzie, and the city of Augusta eventually provided financial support to keep the tournament alive.
The prize structure reflected these lean times. The total purse that year was just $5,000, with Smith’s first-place prize of $1,500 requiring an unusual solution: seventeen club members had to personally contribute funds to cover the payment. Adjusted for inflation, that $5,000 total purse would be worth approximately $123,000 in today’s currency.
A Dramatic Shift in the Modern Era
Fast forward to 2026, and the contrast is striking. The Masters’ total purse has grown to a record $22.5 million, with the champion receiving $4.5 million. To put the historical progression in perspective, the amount awarded to 35th place in the current tournament roughly equals the entire purse from 1934.
The winner’s check has also increased notably from recent years. The $4.5 million payout represents a $300,000 increase from what Rory McIlroy earned as last year’s champion, and a $900,000 jump from what Scottie Scheffler claimed in 2024.
The green jacket remains golf’s most iconic prize, but today’s Masters champion will enjoy considerably more financial security alongside that distinction. The days of Augusta National struggling to pay its winners are firmly in the past.
This article was created with the help of AI and editorially reviewed. Report an issue