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 |
-
Shaun Norris Fights From Six Back To Win Alfred Dunhill ChampionshipThe penultimate DP World Tour event of the calendar year was won by South African Shaun Norris after the 42-year-old shot 67 to triumph by one
-
Marcus Kinhult Facts: 18 Things You Didn't Know About The Swedish GolferIf you're looking to learn more about Swedish professional, Marcus Kinhult's life and career in golf, here are a number of facts...
-
LIV Golf Responds Following Rules Incident At Promotions EventDuring the third playoff hole of the second round, Ollie Schniederjans used the rules to his advantage but, following the incident, it caused some reaction online
-
Chieh-po Lee Secures Spot In 2025 LIV Golf League After Promotions VictoryThe Chinese Taipei star fired a 10-under tournament total to claim a two shot victory and a spot on the 2025 LIV Golf League
-
Grant Thornton Invitational Prize Money Payout 2024How much money is on the line at the Grant Thornton Invitational?
-
Watch Grant Thornton Invitational: Live Stream, TV, Leaderboard, Tee TimesThe mixed pairs (PGA Tour - LPGA Tour) event returns for its second edition – here's how to watch Grant Thornton Invitational online, on TV, and from anywhere.
-
LIV Golf Pair Hint At Ryder Cup-Style Match Against PGA TourBrooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have hinted that their 'Showdown' match with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler could be just a preview of a Ryder Cup style LIV Golf-PGA Tour clash in the future
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To FruitionRory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
-
How To Watch PGA Tour Q-School: TV, Live Stream, Tee Times For Final StagePGA Tour cards are up for grabs in the high-stakes Final Stage – here's how to watch PGA Tour Q-School online, on TV, and from anywhere.
-
Brooks And Bryson 'Would Have Put Up A Good Fight' Against Scheffler In 2024Brooks Koepka says he and Bryson DeChambeau would have given Scottie Scheffler a "good fight" had they played on the PGA Tour
