What do PGA Championship winners receive? Champion to claim special dinner and record-breaking prize money

May 17, 2026 - 17:00
What do PGA Championship winners receive? Champion to claim special dinner and record-breaking prize money

The life of a major-winning golfer is pretty sweet.

The 2026 PGA Championship will be decided tonight with a hectic Sunday in store amid one of the most bunched leaderboards in major golf history.

Scheffler claimed glory at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow last year

Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler got his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow last year.

His victory in Charlotte ranked among the biggest in his career and with it came a host of privileges and prizes…

What do PGA Championship winners receive?

First and foremost, the winner will lift the incredible Wanamaker Trophy.

The Wanamaker is among golf’s most prestigious prizes and is as iconic as the Claret Jug or Green Jacket.

The trophy weighs a hefty 27lbs and stands at an impressive 28 inches tall.

The winner will keep the real thing for a year until the next PGA Championship when they are then awarded a 90 per cent size replica to keep forever.

The second main thing awaiting the champion is the cash.

This year’s PGA Championship has an overall purse of $20.5million, a new record, while the winner scoops $3.69m.

The main share is up from the $3.42m which Scheffler took home last year.

Schauffele won the PGA Championship in 2024
Getty

Recent PGA Championship winners

  • 2025 – Scottie Scheffler, Quail Hollow Club
  • 2024 – Xander Schauffele, Valhalla Golf Club
  • 2023 – Brooks Koepka, Oak Hill Country Club
  • 2022 – Justin Thomas, Southern Hills Country Club
  • 2021 – Phil Mickelson, Kiawah Island Golf Resort
  • 2020 – Collin Morikawa, TPC Harding Park
  • 2019 – Brooks Koepka, Bethpage Black
  • 2018 – Brooks Koepka, Bellerive Country Club
  • 2017 – Justin Thomas, Quail Hollow Club
  • 2016 – Jimmy Walker, Baltusrol Golf Club

The winner of the major also receives 100 Official World Golf Rankings points and 750 FedEx Cup points.

All PGA Championship winners receive a lifetime exemption to the major, meaning they can play the tournament for the rest of their careers.

And a win also secures an automatic spot at the other three majors for five years.

Rory McIlroy is a former PGA Championship winner
USA Today

A five-year exemption into The Players Championship, a five-year PGA Tour membership and a seven-year DP World Tour card are also included.

Other rewards are lesser known.

Like at the Masters, champions also get the honour of hosting an annual Champions Dinner on the Tuesday of major week.

Scheffler had the privilege this year, going to a simple menu of chicken parm and gelato.

All in all, some seriously good perks will await Sunday’s champion.

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