My, what a different 74 years makes in golf purses: In 1950, the U.S. Open winner took home $4,000. In 2024, the winner took home $4.3 million.

1950: Ben Hogan at Merion,$4,000

1960: Arnold Palmer at Cherry Hills, $14,400

1973: Johnny Miller at Oakmont, $35,000

1980: Jack Nicklaus at Baltusrol, $55,000

1982: Tom Watson at Pebble Beach, $60,000

1992: Tom Kite at Pebble Beach, $275,000

2000: Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach, $800,000

2008: Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines, $1.35 million

2011: Rory McIlroy at Congressional, $1.44 million

2015: Jordan Spieth at Chambers Bay, $1.8 million

2017: Brooks Koepka at Erin Hills, $2.16 million

2021: Jon Rahm at Torrey Pines, $2.25 million

2022: Matt Fitzpatrick at The Country Club, $3.15 million

2023: Wyndham Clark at LACC, $3.6 million

2024: Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst,$4.3 million

And here is the payouts for each U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills:

1896 (James Foulis): Purse—$335; winner’s share: $150

1986 (Raymond Floyd): Purse—$700,000; winner’s share: $126,000

1995 (Corey Pavin): Purse—$2 million; winner’s share: $350,000

2004 (Retief Goosen): Purse—$6.25 million; winner’s share: $1.125 million

2018 (Brooks Koepka): Purse—$12 million; winner’s share: $2.16 million

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/us-open-2026-prize-money-payout-for-each-golfer-breaks-record-purse-payday-22-and-a-half-million