Add The New York Post on Google Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open victory came with a record payday.
Clark earned $4.5 million for winning the 126th playing of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, taking home the largest share of a record $22.5 million purse.
The USGA increased the total prize pool by $1 million for this year’s championship, continuing a recent rise in prize money across golf’s major tournaments.
Wyndham Clark holds the trophy after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Sunday, June 21, 2026. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Clark’s winner’s check was also up $200,000 from what J.J. Spaun earned for winning last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont.
The remaining $800,000 from the increased purse was divided among the rest of the players who made the cut at Shinnecock Hills.
Sam Burns earned $2.43 million for finishing second, while Tom Kim took home $1,532,530 for third.
Scottie Scheffler, J.T. Poston and Keith Mitchell tied for fourth, with each earning $920,882.
The record U.S. Open purse puts the tournament level with the Masters at the top of golf’s major championship payouts, with both events offering $22.5 million this year after $1 million increases.
The PGA Championship also increased its purse this year, moving from $19 million to $20.5 million.
The Open Championship paid out $17 million in 2025, with its 2026 purse still to be determined.
Wyndham Clark celebrates on the 16th hole during the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Post The U.S. Open’s increased money was spread throughout the field, not just at the top of the leaderboard.
The 67 professionals who made the weekend at Shinnecock Hills split the $22.5 million purse, with the bottom professional finisher earning $42,863.
Everyone who finished inside the top 38 made at least six figures, while every player inside the top 20 earned more than $250,000.
Justin Rose, John Parry, Sahith Theegala, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele and Aaron Rai each earned $405,862 after tying for 11th.
Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Ben Griffin, Akshay Bhatia and Ludvig Åberg each took home $280,966 after finishing in a tie for 17th.
Further down the leaderboard, a group that included Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Max McGreevy, Maverick McNealy, Brian Harman and Zac Blair earned $128,756 each after tying for 32nd.
For Clark, though, the payout was the biggest of the week.
He left Shinnecock Hills with the U.S. Open trophy and a $4.5 million winner’s check from the largest purse in tournament history.
