Record PGA Championship prize money revealed: Aaron Rai’s victory worth over double Rory McIlroy’s Wanamaker wins combined

Aaron Rai has won the 2026 PGA Championship and claimed its record-breaking prize money.

The 108th edition of the PGA Championship concluded at Aronimink Golf Club on Sunday night with England’s Rai producing a stunning display to secure major glory.

Getty

And as well as the famous Wanamaker trophy, the 31-year-old from Wolverhampton will take home a hefty chunk of change.

The purse on offer at the second major of the year has increased dramatically over the last decade.

Jimmy Walker won $1.8million for his victory at Baltusrol in 2016 and that has jumped up to Scottie Scheffler scooping $3.42m with his win at Quail Hollow last summer.

Now, this year’s champion has won a staggering $3.69m from a total purse of $20.5m – both of which are records for the PGA Championship.

Rai’s share this year is half a million dollars more than what Rory McIlroy won for his two PGA Championship victories combined!

It is also triple the amount Tiger Woods won at Medinah 20 years ago.

Rai said: “Winning is very surreal.

“It has been a bit of a frustrating season so to be stood here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination.

“I think it is really good consistency over the last few weeks with practice. My body feels great and I have really enjoyed the course this week.”

Getty

The incredible numbers don’t stop with the winner.

Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley came in a tie for second and both took home $1.8m, just shy of Justin Thomas’ winnings in 2017.

Given the bunched-nature of the leaderboard, the prize money has been shared out more than expected.

A solo runner-up would have won $2.2m but that has been re-calculated while Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg and Matti Schmid won $842k for coming fourth rather than the originally stated $984k.

Rory McIlroy took home $637k for coming T7 and Justin Rose received $496k after finishing T10.

Players who missed the cut received $4,300 each while Brian Campbell, who came in 82nd place, last of the players who made the weekend, got $24k.

Getty

The PGA Championship purse remains lower than that at The Masters, US Open and The Players but considerably more than at The Open.

The increased prize fund does move it above the PGA Tour’s rewards for their Signature Events.

McIlroy won $4.5m for his Masters triumph last month with the Augusta showpiece boosting a huge prize fund of $22.5m.

The purse for the upcoming US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club has not been confirmed yet but last year it had a fund of $21.5m.

The Open Championship is the outlier in terms of cash on offer and has a more modest total of $17m.