McIlroy Sets Masters Record For Career Prize Money With Repeat Win

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

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In making history as the fourth golfer to repeat as Masters champion, Rory McIlroy became the tournament’s all-time highest-earning golfer.

McIlroy vaulted past both Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in career money winnings at Augusta National Golf Club by collecting a record $4.5 million for his one-shot win over Scottie Scheffler. The champion’s check surpassed the total Masters prize money earned by all but eight other players ever coming into this year’s event.

McIlroy has now pocketed more than $13 million in 18 career Masters appearances.

“Absolutely delighted to get it done. Having a six-shot lead going into the weekend, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow if I wasn’t able to get myself over the finish line,” said McIlroy, who joined Woods (2001-02), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965-66) as the only golfers to claim back-to-back Masters titles. He’s the 19th golfer with two or more wins at the season’s first major.

“It’s hard to win golf tournaments, especially around here. You’ve had maybe a couple runaway winners over the years, but it always seems to be a very tight finish at this golf course," added McIlroy. "It’s the nature of the golf course, it’s the nature of what’s at stake."

Scheffler earned $2.43 million for his runner-up finish, and the two-time champion also moved past Mickelson and Woods into second place in career Masters prize money, with almost $10.5 million in just seven appearances. Neither Mickelson nor Woods played in the Masters this year, marking the first year they’ve both missed it since 1994.

“The major championships bring out the best in me. I had a good week," said Scheffler, who won Masters titles in 2022 and 2024. “There’s a few shots I'd like to have back, but overall put up a good fight.”

All-time money leaders at the Masters Tournament. Source: The Masters media guide

Erik Matuszewski

The Masters, like golf’s other major championships (and the Players Championship), has seen its total prize purse soar in recent years. The 54 players who made the 36-hole cut at Augusta National this year split $22.5 million – a $1.5 million increase over 2025 and second in the game behind only the Players Championship’s $25 million payout this year.

The total purse at the Masters Tournament has nearly doubled in the last five years alone.

McIlroy’s winner’s check was 346% higher than the total Woods won in 2001, when he became the first Green Jacket winner to collect a payout of $1 million ($1.008 million).

Horton Smith received $1,500 when he won the first playing of the Masters in 1934.

Evolution of the Masters first-prize payout.

Erik Matuszewski

The lowest payout of the 54 golfers who made the cut this year was $52,200 for 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who finished 24 strokes behind McIlroy. All professional golfers who failed to qualify for weekend play will receive $25,000.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com