Open Championship prize money: Winner gets R54 million

The winner of next week’s Open Championship will receive a record $3 million (R54 million) in prize money, the R&A has announced.

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By way of contrast, Australia’s Cameron Smith took home $2.5 million for winning last year’s Open.

The total prize fund for the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23 will be $16.5 million (R300 million), an 18 percent increase on last year.

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At the time of publishing, there are 10 South African players entered for The Open, four of whom will be debutants.

That quartet are Kyle Barker, Christo Lamprecht (amateur), Martin Rohwer and Ockie Strydom.

They will be joined by former Open champions Louis Oosthuizen (201) and Ernie Els (2002 and 2012), Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Thriston Lawrence, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel.

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R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “Our aim is to ensure The Open remains at the pinnacle of world golf and we have almost doubled the prize fund since 2016.

“While we are seeing substantial increases in prize money across the men’s professional game, we are fulfilling our wider obligation to the sport by elevating the AIG Women’s Open, strengthening pathways in the elite amateur game and encouraging more people around the world to play golf.

“We believe that getting this balance right is vital to the long-term future of the sport.”

154TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE CONFIRMED

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Meanwhile, it was revealed this week that the 154th Open Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale in 2026.

The Southport venue has hosted the Open on 10 previous occasions, most recently in 2017 when Jordan Spieth edged out fellow American Matt Kuchar to lift the Claret Jug.

The 2026 Open will be staged from July 16-19.

For the record, the 2024 Open will be held at Royal Troon and the 2025 edition at Royal Portrush.

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