Debates on the relative merits of the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf in areas including format and entertainment are hardly likely to be settled any time soon, but one area backed up by cold, hard numbers is the prize money handed out on each of the two circuits.
From the word go, LIV Golf has made no excuses about the incredible purses it offers, with each of its regular tournaments since 2022 handing out $25m before $50m is fought over in the season-closing Team Championship.
The PGA Tour, aware of the sizeable threat that financial muscle posed to its dominance, soon responded with eye-catching payouts of its own, including $20m in most of its signature events and $25m for its flagship tournament The Players Championship.
However, those tournament-by-tournament payouts are far from the end of the windfalls awaiting the most successful players on each circuit.
The regular PGA Tour season culminates in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The three-event contest begins with the top 70 in the season-long FedEx Cup standings competing in the FedEx St. Jude Championship before, ultimately, just 30 of those make it to the Tour Championship finale at East Lake.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf has a season-long competition of its own, the Individual Championship, where players are awarded points based on their finishes in each event to determine their position.
Considering the huge publicity over the financial clout offered by the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, it may be a surprise to learn that the money offered in the FedEx Cup is one area where the PGA Tour outstrips its rival, helped by a $3bn investment by the Strategic Sports Group.
In 2024, the FedEx Cup prize pool has been raised to an enormous $100m (up $65m since 2018), and the majority of it will be shared between the top 10 finishers at the Tour Championship.
That inflated FedEx Cup prize money payout means this year’s winner will receive an incredible $25m bonus.
Viktor Hovland won $18m in the 2023 FedEx Cup - but there's $7m on offer to the 2024 winner
That's $7m more than last year’s winner Viktor Hovland claimed, while the runner-up will bank a bonus of $12.5m - $2.5m more than the winner earned just six years ago as the trend of its prize money increasing through the years continues. There are also seven-figure sums on offer to the eight players finishing beneath them, with even the player finishing 10th receiving $1.75m.
As for LIV Golf's individual bonus payouts, at the end of the final regular event of the season, LIV Golf Chicago, the Individual Championship standings will be confirmed as Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann battle to succeed 2023 champion Talor Gooch.
Talor Gooch won $18m in 2023, and that's what's on offer for the this year's Individual Champion
Like 2023, there will be an extra payment of $18m heading to the winner, $8m to the runner-up and $4m to the player finishing third.
FedEx Cup Bonus Payouts 2024
| FedEx Cup Position | Prize Money Payout |
|---|---|
| 1st | $25m |
| 2nd | $12.5m |
| 3rd | $7.5m |
| 4th | $6m |
| 5th | $5m |
| 6th | $3.5m |
| 7th | $2.75m |
| 8th | $2.25m |
| 9th | $2m |
| 10th | $1.75m |
LIV Golf League Bonus Payouts 2024
| LIV Golf League Position | Prize Money Payout |
|---|---|
| 1st | $18m |
| 2nd | $8m |
| 3rd | $4m |
-
I Need These Golf Shoes - FootJoy Unveils Legends Series With Stunning 'Spring Bloom' ShoesFootJoy continues to raise the bar when it comes to special edition golf shoes...
-
Garmin Approach S44 Golf Watch ReviewHow does the latest installment in Garmin's golf smartwatch range perform both on and off the golf course?
-
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Prize Money Payout 2025Scottie Scheffler is the biggest name in the field as players compete for a record purse in Texas
-
Blades Brown Has Just Given Up His CJ Cup Byron Nelson Sponsor's Invite... And For A Good ReasonThe 17-year-old is officially listed in this week's Talum Championship field on the Korn Ferry Tour in order to focus on earning his status on the PGA Tour feeder circuit
-
Joaquin Niemann Earns US Open Spot After Latest LIV Golf WinThe LIV Golf Mexico City champion has booked his spot for Oakmont via LIV's recently announced US Open exemption
-
Andrew Novak And Ben Griffin Seal Maiden PGA Tour Titles At Zurich Classic Of New OrleansThe duo held off the challenges of Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard and Frank Capan III and Jake Knapp to win the TPC Louisiana team tournament
-
Zurich Classic Of New Orleans Tee Times: Final RoundAndrew Novak and Ben Griffin lead the pairs event by three shots going into the final round, with both men searching for a maiden PGA Tour victory
-
Richard Bland Makes Albatross At LIV Golf Mexico CityThe Cleeks GC player found the hole with just his second shot at the par-5 16th during the second round of the tournament
-
Scottie Scheffler Adds Extra PGA Tour Event To Hectic Upcoming ScheduleThe World No.1 begins a hectic period of the season with an appearance in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson
-
Bryson DeChambeau Produces 377 Yard Average Off The Tee At LIV Golf Mexico CityThe American had the driver firing during his first round in Mexico City, with DeChambeau producing mammoth drive after mammoth drive at Club de Golf Chapultepec
