PGA Championship purse $20.5 million

Aaron Rai closed with a 5-under 65 on May 17 to win the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and collect $3.69 million from a record $20.5 million purse. The PGA of America raised the purse by $1.5 million from last year’s $19 million total at Quail Hollow, according to Golf Channel. Forbes and multiple golf outlets reported the payout as the largest in major championship history, with the winner’s share set at 18% of the total pool. ### How big was the purse, exactly? The 2026 PGA Championship purse was $20.5 million, up from $19 million in 2025, according to Golf Channel and PGA Tour coverage published during tournament week. That increase made this year’s event the richest major by total prize money, according to those reports. (golfchannel.com) The winner’s check was $3.69 million, which several outlets listed as Aaron Rai’s payout after his Sunday victory. Forbes said Rai earned that amount for winning his first major at Aronimink. ### Who won the money at the top of the board? Aaron Rai finished at 9 under par after a final-round 65, beating the field for his first major championship and his second PGA Tour title, Golf Channel reported. (golfchannel.com) Golfweek said Rai became the first player from England to win the PGA Championship in 107 years. (forbes.com) Jon Rahm finished runner-up, according to post-tournament reports cited in the briefing and leaderboard coverage from Golf Channel. That mattered for the payout ladder because the PGA Championship distributes prize money on a descending scale tied to finishing position, with the largest shares concentrated at the top. (golfchannel.com) ### Why does the winner get $3.69 million out of $20.5 million? The PGA Championship follows a standard published payout structure in which the champion receives the largest fixed share of the purse. In 2026, that top share worked out to $3.69 million from the $20.5 million pool, as listed by PGA Tour, Golf Channel and USA Today payout tables. (golfchannel.com) The field payout extended well beyond the winner. CBS Sports and USA Today said 82 golfers made the cut at Aronimink, and the published breakdowns assigned a specific dollar amount to each finishing position. ### Where was this year’s championship played? Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, just outside Philadelphia, hosted the 108th PGA Championship from May 11-17, according to PGA Tour and Golf Channel coverage. (pgatour.com) The venue changed from Quail Hollow, which staged the 2025 edition won by Scottie Scheffler. (cbssports.com) Golf Channel said the purse announcement came with players competing for the biggest payday ever offered at a men’s major. Forbes framed the same figure through Rai’s win, focusing on the amount he received after lifting the Wanamaker Trophy. (pgatour.com) ### Where can readers check the full payouts? PGA Tour published a purse explainer during tournament week, and Golf Channel, USA Today and other outlets posted full position-by-position payouts after the finish on May 17. Those tables list the exact earnings for Rai and the rest of the players who made the cut at Aronimink. (golfchannel.com) May 17 is the key date for the finalized numbers, because the official finishing order locked only after Rai’s victory and the last groups completed the final round at Aronimink. (golfchannel.com) (pgatour.com)