The PGA Championship tees off Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., with a field of 156 of the world's best golfers. But while the competition is always fierce, the prize money has recently trailed behind other major championships and top-tier events.

Last year's purse hit $19 million—a $500,000 increase from 2024 and a tournament record. Yet it still ranked third among the four majors, behind the U.S. Open ($21.5 million) and the Masters, which paid $21 million in 2025 and has already raised its 2026 purse to $22.5 million. The Open Championship, meanwhile, offered $17 million.

"It's a balanced approach," PGA of America CEO Terry Clark said Wednesday during his pre-tournament press conference, addressing questions about the tournament's prize money strategy. "It's not always in comparison to all of the other majors. What are the factors that make sense? We do look at it as an annual focus around how we get competitive purses."

The PGA of America—a separate entity from the PGA Tour—also operates the Ryder Cup and other events. This year's purse will be announced Saturday morning, following standard protocol.

Beyond the majors, the PGA Tour's eight $20 million signature events and the $25 million Players Championship all offer larger paydays. LIV Golf events are even more lucrative, paying $33 million this season ($23 million to players, $10 million to teams). Last week, USGA CEO Mike Whan noted the U.S. Open's prize money strategy is "not a race" with the Masters or anyone else—a sentiment that echoes the PGA Championship's measured approach.

Clark, who took the helm in February after Derek Sprague's brief one-year tenure, also addressed two hot topics: the tournament's May date and potential international expansion. "I really think we've got a strong position in May," he said, dismissing any talk of moving back to August or taking the championship overseas.