Winning The Open has never been about the money. Ask anyone who's ever hoisted the Claret Jug and they'll tell you it's the history, the prestige and the knowledge that your name will forever sit alongside the legends of the game.

That said, an extra AUS$4.6 million in the bank is a pretty nice way to celebrate.

Whoever conquers Royal Birkdale and claims The 154th Open title will pocket AUS$4.6 million, with a total prize fund of AUS$25.6 million up for grabs when the Championship returns to the famous Sefton coast. 

Of course, it's not just the winner who gets rewarded. Every professional who makes the weekend has something to play for, and even those whose Open dreams end after 36 holes won't be heading home empty-handed.

Prize money is allocated only to professional golfers. Should more than 70 professionals qualify for the final two rounds, additional prize money will be added. In that case, the payout decreases by about AUS$178 for each qualifying place above 70, to a minimum of approximately AUS$56,970.

Miss the cut? There's still enough for a decent consolation dinner... or perhaps a new set of clubs. The leading 10 professional non-qualifiers (and ties) receive AUS$18,478, the next 20 professionals (and ties) earn AUS$15,398, while the remaining professionals (and ties) collect AUS$13,035.

PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN: 2026 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (AUS CURRENCY)

1 $4,584,000
2 $2,638,427
3 $1,691,830
4 $1,313,184
5 $1,056,489
6 $916,111
7 $787,176
8 $663,486
9 $581,413
10 $525,680
11 $478,701
12 $423,982
13 $398,864
14 $373,368
15 $346,440
16 $318,934
17 $303,662
18 $289,139
19 $277,108
20 $264,072
21 $251,754
22 $239,151
23 $226,258
24 $213,652
25 $206,419
26 $197,667
27 $190,506
28 $183,917
29 $175,896
30 $166,871
31 $161,429
32 $153,121
33 $147,677
34 $143,524
35 $138,511
36 $133,068
37 $126,766
38 $120,464
39 $116,022
40 $112,297
41 $107,714
42 $102,414
43 $97,830
44 $92,255
45 $86,960
46 $82,505
47 $79,211
48 $76,045
49 $72,625
50 $70,759
51 $69,255
52 $68,038
53 $67,035
54 $66,033
55 $64,887
56 $64,027
57 $63,383
58 $62,953
59 $62,488
60 $62,058
61 $61,736
62 $61,449
63 $61,163
64 $60,876
65 $60,375
66 $59,910
67 $59,445
68 $59,015
69 $58,585
70 $58,298