Open Championship increases prize pot MyZA

The winner of the Open will take home a sizeable cheque as well as the famous claret jug. Photo: Getty Images

The winner of this year’s Open Championship will collect £945,000 (R14.4m) in 2013, a £45,000 (R684,700) increase on the prize picked up by South Africa’s Ernie Els for his triumph at Royal Lytham in 2012.

Reflecting an astronomical rise in prize-money in the game over the past 25 years, Nick Faldo earned a combined £170,000 for his two Open victories at Muirfield – in 1987, when the prize fund was £650,000, and 1992, when £950,000 was up for grabs.

The runner-up next month will receive £545,000, while making the cut will be worth a minimum of £12,100. If more than 70 professional golfers qualify for the final two rounds, additional prize money will be added.

As for the non-qualifiers, the leading ten professionals and ties will pocket £3,700, the next 20 and ties will get £3,000 and the remaining professionals will pick up £2,500.

The increase in prize money brings The Open in line with the three other majors – The Masters, the US Open and USPGA Championship.

Speaking in April at the media day ahead of the 142nd Open, RA chief executive Peter Dawson said that it was “very important” that the prize fund for the world’s oldest major remained competitive with the other three events. – The Scotsman