The winner of the Open Championship next month will get a cheque for over £1 million for the first time as well as the famous Claret Jug.
The champion’s cheque has risen by £175,000 to £1.15 million, marginally higher than the £1.14m Jordan Spieth won for his victories at both the Masters and the US Open.
The overall prizefund for the 144th championship has risen £900,000 to £6,300,000. Even players missing the cut at The Open are guaranteed a cheque for £9000 unless they are amateurs.
Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The Open is one of the world’s pre-eminent sporting events. The Championship represents the pinnacle for the world’s greatest golfers and this increase is appropriate for an event with The Open’s global appeal.”
The sharp increase in prizemoney comes just as the R&A have secured two new lucrative TV deals to begin in 2017, with Sky Sports for European rights and with NBC for US coverage, a ten year agreement signed only a fortnight ago.
Just 25 years ago Nick Faldo recieved £85,000 when he won his second Open title at St Andrews – the amount the 15th placed finisher will get this year at the Old Course.
Open champions also recieve an engraved gold medal, a prize dating from 1870 when the Claret Jug had just been commissioned and there was no trophy. The original leather belt given to the first winner in 1860 was retired when Young Tom Morris won three successive titles.
Champions who are from the UK and members of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland also recieve two additional trophies, the Ryle Memorial Medal and the Braid-Taylor Medal.