Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse, Golf’s Richest

The Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse in 2025, making it the richest individual prize fund in golf history. In a groundbreaking change, the PGA Tour has decided to make the FedEx Cup payoff count as official money for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2007. This year’s total purse is an unprecedented $40 million, with $10 million going to the winner — a prize that will surely draw the attention of every top golfer in the world.

This decision marks a pivotal moment for professional golf, as players will now compete not only for FedEx Cup glory but also for official earnings that impact their career statistics, money list standings, and legacies.

From Bonus Checks to Official PGA Tour Earnings

Until now, the FedEx Cup bonus pool at the Tour Championship was classified as unofficial money, with a portion often deferred for tax purposes. Even after the 2019 format change that introduced “starting strokes” — giving the No. 1 seed a two-shot lead to start the event — the prize money itself didn’t count as official earnings.

The Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse this year because starting strokes have been eliminated, creating a level playing field for all 30 players who qualify for East Lake. Every participant now begins the tournament at even par, just like a traditional PGA Tour event. This means that the player with the lowest score over four rounds will win both the Tour Championship title and the FedEx Cup — along with a record-breaking payday.

The Breakdown of the $40 Million Purse

The Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse and an innovative payout structure that rewards consistency as well as performance in the finale:

Winner: $10 million in official PGA Tour earnings
Runner-up: $5 million
Third place: $3,705,000
Last place (30th): $355,000

This dramatic payout not only raises the stakes but also ensures that every participant leaves with a substantial prize. Compared to 2018, when the official purse at East Lake was $9 million and Tiger Woods took home $1.62 million, the difference is staggering.

Impact on the Money List Race

This new format creates intriguing possibilities in the season-long money list standings. Currently, Scottie Scheffler leads with $20,362,883 in official earnings. However, Masters champion Rory McIlroy ($16,156,418) and U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun ($12,302,222) both have a mathematical chance of surpassing him if they win at East Lake.

Because the Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse, victory could mean a leap from third place to the top of the money list — a career-defining accomplishment.

Why the Change Matters

The PGA Tour’s move to count the purse as official money has several important implications:

Historical Recognition: Previous FedEx Cup wins came with life-changing money, but those figures weren’t reflected in a player’s official earnings record. Now, winners will receive the credit they deserve.
Motivation for Players: The fact that the Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse will be fully official adds a layer of competitive intensity.
Fairer Competition: Without starting strokes, the event becomes a pure four-day stroke-play contest, rewarding whoever plays the best golf that week.

Patrick Cantlay, a past FedEx Cup champion, praised the change:

“If you played a whole year to get into the Tour Championship with the best 30 guys and you beat them that week with everything on the line, that’s a huge accomplishment.”

The End of Starting Strokes

Introduced in 2019, starting strokes were designed to simplify the FedEx Cup playoff format for fans by ensuring the winner of the Tour Championship was also the FedEx Cup champion. However, critics argued it created an uneven playing field.

This year, with starting strokes removed, the Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse in a format that is straightforward and familiar — all players start at even par, and the lowest score wins. This makes for a truer test of skill and a more exciting finish.

Regular Season Rewards Still Matter

While the finale is now a pure tournament, the PGA Tour has not abandoned the idea of rewarding season-long excellence. Scheffler, as the FedEx Cup regular-season leader, already banked $10 million from the bonus pool, and another $5 million for being the No. 1 seed after the BMW Championship. These amounts, however, remain part of the bonus pool and do not count as official money.

Historic Comparisons

The Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse, which dwarfs previous record payouts in golf history. For perspective:

In 2007, the inaugural FedEx Cup awarded $10 million to the winner, all unofficial.
In 2018, Tiger Woods’ legendary victory earned him $1.62 million from a $9 million official purse, while Justin Rose won the FedEx Cup bonus without winning a playoff event.
Now, in 2025, the official winner’s prize is over six times what Tiger earned in 2018 — a testament to the PGA Tour’s growth.

What It Means for Golf’s Future

By making the FedEx Cup payout official and dramatically increasing the prize money, the PGA Tour sends a clear signal: postseason events are meant to be the pinnacle of professional golf.

The Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse also enhances the prestige of qualifying for East Lake. Simply making the final 30 now guarantees at least $355,000 in official earnings — a significant incentive for players to stay sharp throughout the season.

Final Thoughts

The decision to make the FedEx Cup payoff official marks a turning point for the PGA Tour. Not only does the Tour Championship Boasts Record $40M Purse create the largest official prize fund in golf history, but it also restores a traditional, merit-based format that rewards the best performance during the final four rounds.

Fans can expect one of the most competitive and exciting Tour Championships ever as golf’s elite chase history, glory, and the richest prize the sport has ever offered.