The final major of the 2024 season has reached the weekend, and it’s setting up for an electric finish.

Shane Lowry leads the way atop the leaderboard as he seeks his second Open Championship title, but he has plenty of challengers within striking distance. Englishman Justin Rose is seeking to become the first British winner since Nick Faldo, while Cinderella story Daniel Brown is trying to do the same. Russell Henley is making a charge up the leaderboard, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains in the mix as well. Any of these contenders could hoist the Claret Jug come Sunday evening and the journey to get there should be a treat for golf fans.

There’s plenty on the line for those hoping to become the Champion Golfer of the Year. Not only will the winner get custody of the Claret Jug for a year, they’ll also get a handful of exemptions and be welcome back to the Open Championship until they’re 60. There’s also a hefty winner’s check at stake — and this year it’s bigger than ever before.

How big is the Open Championship purse?

This year’s purse is a record-breaking sum for the R&A. The total purse for the 2024 Open Championship is $17 million, up $500,000 from just last year. Since the last time the Open was contested at Royal Troon (2016), the purse has increased by over $10 million.

How much does the Open Championship winner get?

Of the $17 million on the line this week, $3.1 million will go to the winner. This is $100,000 more than Brian Harman earned for his victory last summer at Royal Liverpool, and almost $2 million(!) more than Henrik Stenson earned for his victory at Troon in 2016.

But even for those who don’t etch their name in the Claret Jug, there’s plenty of cash on the line. The top three finishers will all earn more than $1 million and everyone in the top 10 will take home at least $350,000. Not bad for a week’s worth of work.

Check out below for a full breakdown of the purse.

2024 Open Championship purse breakdown

1. $3,100,000
2. $1,759,000
3. $1,128,000
4. $876,000
5. $705,000
6. $611,000
7. $525,000
8. $442,500
9. $388,000
10. $350,600
11. $319,200
12. $282,800
13. $266,000
14. $249,000
15. $231,000
16. $212,700
17. $202,400
18. $193,000
19. $184,900
20. $176,200
21. $168,000
22. $159,600
23. $151,000
24. $142,600
25. $137,600
26. $131,800
27. $127,000
28. $122,600
29. $117,300
30. $111,200
31. $107,600
32. $102,100
33. $98,500
34. $95,700
35. $92,400
36. $88,700
37. $84,600
38. $80,300
39. $77,400
40. $74,900
41. $71,800
42. $68,300
43. $65,200
44. $61,500
45. $58,000
46. $55,000
47. $52,800
48. $50,700
49. $48,400
50. $47,200
51. $46,200
52. $45,400
53. $44,700
54. $44,000
55. $43,300
56. $42,700
57. $42,300
58. $42,000
59. $41,700
60. $41,400
61. $41,200
62. $41,000
63. $40,800
64. $40,600
65. $40,300
66. $40,000
67. $39,700
68. $39,400
69. $39,100
70. $38,900

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.