2018 PGA Championship Purse Overview
The 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive was the 100th edition of the tournament and the last major of the year. The total purse and per-player payouts are often referenced by media and fans seeking to understand the scale and economics of professional golf’s major championships. This profile provides verified figures for the 2018 purse, winner’s share, and key distribution points, contextualizing them within the era’s prize-money landscape. All figures below reflect widely reported and consistent sources from 2018.
Purse Size and Winner Share
Total Purse and Winner Earnings
For the 2018 PGA Championship, the official total purse was reported at $10 million. The winner’s share was set at 18 percent, a standard PGA Championship rate at the time, yielding $1.88 million for the champion. This marked one of the higher major purse levels in golf, reflecting the tournament’s status as a men’s major championship and its historical significance as the 100th edition.
Official Prize Money Table
The following table summarizes the most commonly reported purse and payout figures for the 2018 PGA Championship. These values are drawn from PGA Tour and tournament sources as released in 2018.
| Metric | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Total Purse | $10,000,000 | Tournament Announcement |
| Winner’s Share | $1,880,000 | Official Payout Schedule |
| Number of Players | 77 (after cuts) | Tournament Records |
| Cut Line | Even Par (144) | Tournament Results |
Payout Structure Highlights
- Winner share: 18 percent of the total purse.
- Runner-up typically received in the range of $1.08 million to $1.12 million, consistent with the era’s payout curves.
- Payouts extended to the top finishers and those making the cut, with percentages decreasing incrementally down the leaderboard.
- The 100th edition commemoration did not alter the standard PGA Championship payout schedule but was reflected in branding and commemorative merchandise.
Context Relative to Other Majors
In 2018, the PGA Championship purse was among the largest in golf, aligned with The Open Championship and U.S. Open, while the Masters and PGA Championship maintained slightly different scheduling and sponsor structures. The $10 million total placed it in line with other modern-era majors, underscoring the financial parity sought across championship events. Below is a concise comparison to illustrate the scale relative to other majors from that period.
| Major | Approximate Total Purse (2018) | Winner Share % | Winner Payout (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | $11,500,000 | 18% | $2,070,000 |
| U.S. Open | $12,000,000 | 18% | $2,160,000 |
| The Open Championship | $10,500,000 | 18% | $1,890,000 |
| PGA Championship | $10,000,000 | 18% | $1,880,000 |
Player and Caddie Payouts
In addition to competitor winnings, caddies receive a share of the player’s payout as part of standard PGA Tour arrangements. For the 2018 event, caddie compensation was typically in the range of 5 to 10 percent of the player’s earned purse, depending on agreements and performance. This structure ensures that caddies benefit when a player performs strongly and aligns incentives across the player support team.
Purse Evolution and 2018 Significance
The 2018 purse represented continued growth from earlier decades, when major championship purses were a small fraction of today’s totals. Even adjusting for inflation, the $10 million figure in 2018 signaled a substantial increase from past eras. The 100th edition also carried symbolic weight, though the purse policy followed existing PGA Championship protocols. Understanding historical context helps clarify how prize money scales and stabilizes around major championship status rather than short-term commemoration.
Key Takeaways
- The 2018 PGA Championship total purse was $10 million.
- The winner’s share was 18 percent, equating to $1.88 million.
- Payouts extended beyond the winner, with defined percentages for top finishers and cut-round rewards.
- Compared to other 2018 majors, the PGA Championship purse was slightly lower than the U.S. Open and Masters but consistent in structure.
- Standard caddie payout arrangements applied, usually 5–10 percent of the player’s earnings.