Throughout history, many legendary names have topped the PGA Tour money list, but their financial rewards pale in comparison to today’s earnings. The landscape of professional golf has changed significantly, particularly after the emergence of LIV Golf in 2022. In an effort to compete with its cash-rich rival, the PGA Tour has dramatically increased its prize money.
Scottie Scheffler stands out in recent years as a prime example of this shift. Not including his massive $25 million bonus for winning the 2024 FedEx Cup at the Tour Championship, Scheffler has already shattered records with $29,228,357 in earnings for the year. This eclipsed his previous record of $21,014,342 in 2023, which itself surpassed his 2022 earnings of $14,046,910.
The early days of the PGA Tour tell a very different story. In 1934, the first money list was drawn up, with two-time PGA Champion Paul Runyan leading the way with a modest total of $6,767. Adjusted for inflation, that amount is roughly $158,842 today – a sum that wouldn’t even secure a high finish at a modern PGA Tour event.
It wasn’t until 1937 that a player surpassed $10,000 in a single season. Harry Cooper, who dominated the tour that year with seven wins, earned just $14,138, which equates to about $309,000 in today’s dollars. While impressive for the time, it’s a far cry from the millions earned by today’s top golfers.
Some of the game’s biggest legends graced the top of the money list in the following years. Seven-time Major winner Sam Snead led the list in 1938 with $19,534 in earnings. Ben Hogan, another icon of the game, topped the list five times between 1940 and 1948. Hogan’s most lucrative year came in 1946, when he earned $42,556 (adjusted for inflation).
In comparison to the current landscape of golf, the earnings of past champions seem small, but they were reflective of their time. The dramatic increase in prize money over recent years illustrates how much the game has evolved financially, with today’s players able to build generational wealth from a single season.