Over the last year the PGA Tour has combatted a potential rival golf league by increasing the money players can earn through elevated purses, bonus pools and new initiatives.
While the FedEx Cup and Player Impact Program each increased in value, so too did a small handful of tournaments, including this week’s Players Championship. The PGA Tour’s flagship event – held annually at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, since 1982 – remains the richest stop on the Tour schedule with a whopping $20 million purse, up from $15 at last year’s event. Justin Thomas took home $2.7 million in 2021, and this year’s champion will pocket a cool $3.6 million.
Over the last 10 years alone the Players purse has doubled in size, and in the event’s 48-year history, the purse has been increased 28 times.
From JT’s big payday in 2021 to the inaugural event in 1974 where Jack Nicklaus earned $50,000 for his two-shot win over J.C. Snead, check out the prize money payouts over the years at the Players Championship.