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UPDATE: Jason Day wins PGA Championship, takes home $1.8 million payout
The Wanamaker Trophy is on the line Sunday at Whistling Straits, but whoever claims it will also claim $1.8 million in prize money as the 2015 PGA Championship winner. That first-place prize will be part of a $10 million purse, tying the PGA Championship for the richest payout in golf with the U.S. Open, British Open, Masters and the Players Championship.
The 2015 purse is the same as it was in 2014 when Rory McIlroy won and took home $1.8 million. The purse was increased significantly last year, going from $8 million overall to $10 million, but there was no increase this season. It joined the Players Championship as the richest purse in golf last season, and remains tied for the richest this year. With a crowded and mixed leaderboard of proven players and up-and-comers, a win at Whistling Straits could be a life changing financial victory or another significant deposit for already accomplished players.
Jordan Spieth has already claimed two $1.8 million purses this season with wins at the Masters and the U.S. Open. Spieth is having one of the most lucrative seasons in recent history. He's won more than $9.3 million on the PGA Tour this season and could top the $10 or even $11 million mark with a successful Sunday. If he does win, Spieth would become the first player to earn more than $10 million in prize money in a single season since Tiger Woods won $10.5 million in 2009. Spieth opened the third round in second place, trailing only Jason Day.
Day claimed the 54-hole lead as he continues the pursuit of his first major championship. He could accomplish that feat on Sunday and would also walk away with the biggest payday of his career. Day has won some notable events in his career, but nothing with a purse close to $1.8 million. Day has earned $4.2 million this season and a victory would move him to No. 2 on the PGA Tour money list, trailing only Spieth. The $1.8 million winners share would also be more than he earned in four of his nine seasons playing on the PGA Tour.
Although the winner will walk away with the biggest prize, the $10 million purse means a significant payday for a number of players in the field. The leaderboard is bunched tightly near the top, so ties will play a major factor in the ultimate payout. Without factoring in ties, 21 players are scheduled to walk away with a six-figure payout. The top 10 finishers would all claim at least $250,000. A solo second place finish is also worth more than $1 million, larger than the winning share at some PGA Tour tournaments.
The Wanamaker Trophy is the biggest prize on Sunday, but there is plenty on the line beyond that. Here is a full breakdown of the purse before ties are ultimately factored in.
| Place | Payout |
| 1st | $1,800,000 |
| 2nd | $1,080,000 |
| 3rd | $680,000 |
| 4th | $480,000 |
| 5th | $400,000 |
| 6th | $335,000 |
| 7th | $313,000 |
| 8th | $293,000 |
| 9th | $273,000 |
| 10th | $253,000 |
| 11th | $233,000 |
| 12th | $213,000 |
| 13th | $198,000 |
| 14th | $184,000 |
| 15th | $172,000 |
| 16th | $160,000 |
| 17th | $148,000 |
| 18th | $136,000 |
| 19th | $126,000 |
| 20th | $116,000 |
| 21st | $106,000 |
| 22nd | $96,000 |
| 23rd | $91,000 |
| 24th | $86,000 |
| 25th | $82,000 |
| 26th | $78,000 |
| 27th | $74,000 |
| 28th | $71,000 |
| 29th | $68,000 |
| 30th | $65,000 |
| 31st | $62,000 |
| 32nd | $59,000 |
| 33rd | $56,000 |
| 34th | $53,000 |
| 35th | $50,000 |
| 36th | $47,400 |
| 37th | $44,800 |
| 38th | $42,400 |
| 39th | $40,000 |
| 40th | $38,000 |
| 41st | $36,000 |
| 42nd | $34,000 |
| 43rd | $32,000 |
| 44th | $31,000 |
| 45th | $30,000 |
| 46th | $29,000 |
| 47th | $28,000 |
| 48th | $27,000 |
| 49th | $26,500 |
| 50th | $26,000 |
| 51st | $25,500 |
| 52nd | $25,000 |
| 53rd | $24,500 |
| 54th | $24,000 |
| 55th | $23,500 |
| 56th | $23,000 |
| 57th | $22,500 |
| 58th | $22,000 |
| 59th | $21,500 |
| 60th | $21,000 |
| 61st | $20,600 |
| 62nd | $20,200 |
| 63rd | $19,800 |
| 64th | $19,400 |
| 65th | $19,000 |
| 66th | $18,800 |
| 67th | $18,600 |
| 68th | $18,400 |
| 69th | $18,200 |
| 70th | $18,000 |
| 71st | $17,900 |
| 72nd | $17,800 |
| 73rd | $17,700 |
| 74th | $17,600 |
| 75th | $17,500 |
| 76th | $17,400 |
| 77th | $17,300 |
★★★
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