The PGA Tour is raising the prize money at The Players Championship to $15 million, making it the largest purse in golf unless any of the majors decide to up the ante this year.
The winner of March 12-15 event at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, will receive $2.7 million, nearly as much as Tiger Woods earned in his first two seasons as a pro.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the increase at the annual players meeting this week at Torrey Pines during the Farmers Insurance Open, according to several players.
The tour typically does not release information on the prize money, wanting the focus to be more on prestige than cash. But it also has a history of wanting its premier event to reflect that in the money available.
“It's our flagship event,” Xander Schauffele said. “It needs to counterbalance the major championships, and it's putting a nice incentive out there. I'm not upset by it.”
Rory McIlroy won last year when the purse was $12.5 million, the same prize money as the U.S. Open. The Masters had a purse of $11.5 million, while the PGA Championship offered $11 million and the British Open purse was $10.75 million.
“It feels like it keeps going up and up and up,” said Jason Day, who won The Players in 2016. “That's great. I'm not complaining.”
PGA Tour players privately grumbled a few years ago when the USGA signed a 10-year deal with Fox Sports worth a reported $1 billion while the U.S. Open purse featured only gradual increases.
Brandt Snedeker was among those who felt this would challenge the four majors to increase their purses.
“As a player, I feel good about it,” Snedeker said. “The Players does it to push the majors to keep up. The majors are huge money-makers, and we're getting a small percentage of that.”
The PGA Tour has no ownership in the four majors, which are organized by Augusta National, the PGA of America, the USGA and the R&A.
The $2.7 million is not the largest prize in official money. The DP World Tour Championship that concludes the European Tour pays $3 million to the winner.
The PGA Tour offers $15 million for the winner of the Tour Championship, but that is considered bonus money from its season points race.
But the purses for PGA Tour events are likely to keep increasing, especially after the tour wraps up its latest round of television negotiations.
TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes hit a tiebreaking free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime and the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-115 on Sunday night in the first of back-to-back meetings between short-handed teams.
Barnes made the first of two from the line and intentionally missed the second as Toronto won its third straight home meeting with the 76ers. He finished 10 for 12 at the line.
Barnes scored 31 points, Jamal Shead added a career-high 22 and Immanuel Quickley had 20 as Toronto won its third straight at home. Collin Murray-Boyles had 17 points and matched his career-high with 15 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey scored 38 points for the 76ers and VJ Edgecombe had 17. Kelly Oubre Jr., Domnick Barlow and Quentin Grimes each scored 13 points but Philadelphia lost for the second time in seven games.
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (left knee and left groin) and Paul George (left knee) both sat out on the first night of this back-to-back.
Barnes returned after sitting out Friday’s loss at Boston because of a sore right knee but RJ Barrett was inactive because of a sprained left ankle. Brandon Ingram (right thumb) missed his second straight game and Jakob Poeltl (lower back) missed his 10th straight. There is no timetable for Poeltl’s return.
Ja’Kobe Walter started for the Raptors but exited four minutes into the first quarter because of a sore right hip.
Philadelphia had 22 turnovers, one shy of matching a season-high. The 76ers' 11 assists were a season-low.
Toronto finished 5 for 32 (.156) from 3-point range, its worst shooting percentage from distance this season.
The 76ers and Raptors play in Toronto again on Monday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, bottom right, rolls on the court as play continues behind him during first-half NBA basketball game action against the Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) looks to shoot as Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) watches during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward/guard Scottie Barnes (4) is fouled on his way to the hoop by Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) as 76ers' Adem Bona, top, looks on during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) drives to the net as Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Trendon Watford (12) and Adem Bona (30) defend during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward/guard Scottie Barnes (4) is fouled on his way to the hoop by Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) as 76ers' Adem Bona (30) looks on during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
