The 2017 U.S. Open purse has been increased to $12 million, up $2 million from just a year ago when the field at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh competed for a $10 million purse. That means the winner's share of the 2017 U.S. Open purse will be a staggering $2.16 million, up $360,000 from the prior $1.8 million.
The purse increase gives the U.S. Open the biggest purse of the four major championship, with the other three remaining, for now, at $10 million, and makes the U.S. Open the richest tournament in professional golf.
The USGA announced the purse increase on Feb. 4 at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
In addition, the U.S. Women's Open purse has been increased to $5 million, a new record for the championship.
It remains to be seen if the Masters, Open Championship and PGA Championship will increase their purses in response. The Players Championship, which had also been the richest tournament in golf along with the PGA Championship when they jointly increased their purses to $10 million in 2014, has raised its 2017 purse to $10.5 million.