The major championship is offering a $21.5 million purse this season. That’s a $1.5 million increase from last season, and $1.5 million more than the Masters had earlier this season.
The winner at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina will earn $4.3 million.
Though the purse is a record for the tournament, it’s not quite the largest offered this season. The Players Championship had a $25 million prize pool in March. Scottie Scheffler took home $4.5 million after his win there at TPC Sawgrass.
Scheffler earned $3.6 million for his win at Augusta National in April. Xander Schauffele, who picked up his first major championship win in Louisville last month, brought home $3.3 million at the PGA Championship. That was part of an $18.5 million purse.
By comparison, the PGA Tour offers $20 million purses at its signature events this season. The first two FedExCup Playoffs events will have $20 million purses, too
The U.S. Open will kick off on Thursday morning in North Carolina. Scheffler, who has won five times on the PGA Tour this season after last week’s Memorial Tournament win, is the overwhelming favorite to win yet again this week.