US Masters: The development of prize money since the beginning

Tiger Woods was paid over two million dollars for his victory at the 2019 US Masters – a first. He also overtook Phil Mickelson in the list of prize money kings in Masters history with this whopping prize money. Tiger Woods now leads this one, too. How the prize money of the US Masters has developed over the years and how much money Horton Smith, the first champion in 1934, got for his triumph over 85 years ago. An overview.

The prize money kings of the Masters history

1. Tiger Woods, $9,494,136
2. Phil Mickelson, $8,018,037
3. Jordan Spieth, $4,561,156
4. bubba watson, $3,931,855
5. Adam Scott, $3,635,277

Prize money at the Masters: Tiger, Mickelson, Spieth

The next list where Tiger Woods is at number one since last year. With his over two million dollars from last year, he overtook three-time “Green Jacket” winner Phil Mickelson. The two are well ahead of the rest. Jordan Spieth, who won the 2015 Masters, is third with earnings of under five million dollars, while Bubba Watson and Adam Scott are fourth and fifth with under four million dollars. What is striking about the list is that only players who are still active are in the top 5. Also, if you let your eyes wander further down the list, you’ll notice: Only players from the modern era of golf take place in this list. The reason for this is the development of the prize money paid out at the US Masters over the years.

Masters prize money: From under two thousand to over two million dollars

The prize money in golf has increased over the years, everyone is aware of that. The market has grown, there are more sponsors and the players are not just athletes but brands. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a look at the prize money development of the US Masters, because the difference between the first and last staging is incomparably large. Horton Smith, who won the first US Masters in 1934, was happy to receive 1500 dollars.

Until the Second World War this prize money for the winner was not increased, only at the first Masters after the war the winner got 2500 dollars. Over the years, the prize money increased almost exponentially. In 1958, the winner was paid over 10,000 dollars for the first time, and in 1984 over 100,000 dollars for the first time. The magic mark of over one million dollars was not cracked until after the turn of the millennium in 2001 – the first winner to enjoy this prize money in new spheres was Tiger Woods. Within 18 years, this prize money has then doubled again, and once again Tiger Woods is the first player to have been paid prize money of over two million dollars.

1934-2021: The prize money of the winners at a glance

1934: $1,500
1935: $1,500
1936: $1,500
1937: $1,500
1938: $1,500
1939: $1,500
1940: $1,500
1941: $1,500
1942: $1,500
1943: –
1944: –
1945: –
1946: $2,500
1947: $2,500
1948: $2,500
1949: $2,750
1950: $2,400
1951: $3,000
1952: $4,000
1953: $4,000
1954: $5,000
1955: $5,000

1956: $6,000
1957: $8,750
1958: $11,250
1959: $15,000
1960: $17,500
1961: $20,000
1962: $20,000
1963: $20,000
1964: $20,000
1965: $20,000
1966: $20,000
1967: $20,000
1968: $20,000
1969: $20,000
1970: $25,000
1971: $25,000
1972: $25,000
1973: $30,000
1974: $35,000
1975: $40,000
1976: $40,000
1977: $40,000
1978: $45,000
1979: $50,000
1980: $55,000
1981: $60,000
1982: $64,000
1983: $90,000
1984: $108,000
1985: $126,000
1986: $144,000

1988: $183,800
1989: $200,000
1990: $225,000
1991: $243,000
1992: $270,000
1993: $306,000
1994: $360,000
1995: $396,000
1996: $450,000
1997: $486,000
1998: $576,000
1999: $720,000
2000: $828,000
2001: $1,008,000
2002: $1,008,000
2003: $1,080,000
2004: $1,117,000
2005: $1,260,000
2006: $1,260,000
2007: $1,305,000
2008: $1,350,000
2009: $1,350,000
2010: $1,350,000
2011: $1,440,000
2012: $1,440,000
2013: $1,440,000
2014: $1,620,000
2015: $1,800,000
2016: $1,800,000
2017: $1,980,000
2018: $1,980,000
2019: $2,070,000
2020: $2,070,000
2021: $2,070,000