Masters Tournament announces 2025 winner's payout, and it's going up

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters winner just got a pay raise.

Augusta National released it’s 2025 Prize Money Breakdown on Saturday, and the top spot has jumped from $3.6 million US to $4.2 million.

The most important prizes for most of the world’s top golfers are still a green jacket and a lifetime pass into the prestigious tournament, but in these days of increasing tournament purses it’s no surprise the home of Bobby Jones is keeping up with the Joneses.

The total purse for this year’s Masters is $21 million, an increase from $20 million last year.

The largest single tournament purse on the PGA Tour is the Players Championship at $25 million, that saw Rory McIlroy take home the $4.5 million winner’s cheque last month.

LIV Golf continues to offer its customary $4 million dollar winner’s cheque and $20 million purses at each of its 14 events. Although players on that tour are also eligible for team prizes, and have signed contracts for various riches before stepping to the tee.

At the inaugural Masters Tournament in 1934, winner Horton Smith took home $1,500 out of a $5,000 purse.

The smallest major championship purse last year was the Open Championship, where winner Xander Schauffele won $3.1 million of a $17 million purse.

The first Open Championship was held in 1860 with no cash prize. The first year that sport’s oldest championship featured a purse was 1863, when 10 pounds was split evenly between the eight professionals in the 14-man field. A year later, the purse was increased to 15 pounds which included a winner’s prize of six pounds that went to Old Tom Morris.