Masters prize pool rises to $22.5 million, with the champion receiving $4.5 million.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy stands to earn $4.5 million from an elevated purse of $22.5 million if he maintains his record six-shot advantage over the concluding 36 holes of the 90th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.
The tournament announced on Saturday that this year’s total prize fund has been raised by $1.5 million compared to last year, when McIlroy, 36, secured $4.2 million for winning his first green jacket and achieving the career Grand Slam.
The second-place finisher will take home $2.43 million; the third-place competitor will receive $1.53 million; and the fourth-place player will earn $1.08 million.
Over the last decade, the Masters purse has more than doubled. It was $10 million in 2016 when England’s Danny Willett emerged as an unexpected champion and earned $1.8 million.
This year, the top 39 finishers will each receive a minimum of $101,250. The player finishing in 50th place will get $56,700. Golfers who do not make the 36-hole cut will receive $25,000.
After recording six birdies in his last seven holes of the second round for a score of 7-under 65, McIlroy will begin play on Saturday with a six-stroke lead over Sam Burns and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed. This marks the largest 36-hole lead in the history of the Masters.
McIlroy currently ranks second in career earnings on the PGA Tour with over $110 million. Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods has earned more than $120 million throughout his illustrious career, which includes 82 PGA Tour victories.
The Players Championship boasts the largest purse in men’s professional golf at $25 million, with Cameron Young earning $4.5 million for his victory at TPC Sawgrass last month.
