Shane Lowry is seeking his second Open Championship victory.
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The final major of the 2024 season has reached the weekend, and it’s setting up for an electric finish.
Shane Lowry leads the way atop the leaderboard as he seeks his second Open Championship title, but he has plenty of challengers within striking distance. Englishman Justin Rose is seeking to become the first British winner since Nick Faldo, while Cinderella story Daniel Brown is trying to do the same. Russell Henley is making a charge up the leaderboard, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains in the mix as well. Any of these contenders could hoist the Claret Jug come Sunday evening and the journey to get there should be a treat for golf fans.
There’s plenty on the line for those hoping to become the Champion Golfer of the Year. Not only will the winner get custody of the Claret Jug for a year, they’ll also get a handful of exemptions and be welcome back to the Open Championship until they’re 60. There’s also a hefty winner’s check at stake — and this year it’s bigger than ever before.
How big is the Open Championship purse?
This year’s purse is a record-breaking sum for the R&A. The total purse for the 2024 Open Championship is $17 million, up $500,000 from just last year. Since the last time the Open was contested at Royal Troon (2016), the purse has increased by over $10 million.
How much does the Open Championship winner get?
Of the $17 million on the line this week, $3.1 million will go to the winner. This is $100,000 more than Brian Harman earned for his victory last summer at Royal Liverpool, and almost $2 million(!) more than Henrik Stenson earned for his victory at Troon in 2016.
But even for those who don’t etch their name in the Claret Jug, there’s plenty of cash on the line. The top three finishers will all earn more than $1 million and everyone in the top 10 will take home at least $350,000. Not bad for a week’s worth of work.
Check out below for a full breakdown of the purse.
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.