Scottie Scheffler pocketed an impressive R55 million after winning the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush over the weekend. His performance was dominant, finishing the tournament at 17-under-par, four strokes ahead of runner-up Harris English.
The win marked the 29-year-old American’s fourth career major title and his second Major triumph this year, having also won the PGA Championship in May. Scheffler has claimed four titles on the PGA Tour in 2025 alone, further establishing his reputation as the top-ranked golfer in the world.
Three South Africans Make the Cut
Out of the eleven South African golfers who participated in the Open, only three managed to make the cut and compete over the weekend. Despite the small number, they earned a decent share of the prize money.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout was the top-performing South African, finishing tied for 34th place. He earned R1.55 million (converted from $86,517). Thriston Lawrence, who finished fourth in last year’s Open, had a more modest showing this time, tying for 45th and taking home R917,000 (or $51,186). Dean Burmester, who finished tied for 61st, walked away with R738,000 (equivalent to $41,100).
Those figures highlight that even finishing outside the top 30 in a Major can still bring in significant earnings. These three golfers, having made the halfway cut, benefitted from four full days of play and the opportunity to move up the leaderboard.
Open Championship Payouts for Missed Cuts Still Rewarding
Even those who didn’t make it to the weekend were not left empty-handed. The Open Championship has a payout structure that compensates players who fail to make the cut after the first two rounds.
The top 10 players (and ties) who missed the cut earned R219,000 (converted from $12,350). The next 20 received R183,000 ($10,300), and the rest of the field was awarded R155,000 ($8,750). This means that the eight South Africans who didn’t make the cut—Louis Oosthuizen, Daniel van Tonder, Justin Walters, Aldrich Potgieter, Dylan Naidoo, Darren Fichardt, Shaun Norris, and amateur Bryan Newman—still walked away with compensation for their efforts.
The Open’s Purse Compared to Other Majors
Although The Open is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments, it offers the smallest total purse among the four Major championships. This year’s total prize fund was $17 million, which equals around R301.7 million.
In comparison, the US Open boasts a prize pool of $21.5 million (roughly R381.1 million), followed closely by The Masters with $21 million (around R372.8 million). The PGA Championship’s purse stands at $19 million, or about R337.2 million. Meanwhile, the Players Championship, often referred to as the unofficial fifth major, has the biggest purse on the PGA Tour at $25 million (about R443.8 million).
A Profitable Week for All Involved
Even though only a handful of South Africans advanced to the weekend rounds, their performances, and even their presence, ensured a financial return. The 2025 Open Championship not only delivered on drama and skill but also demonstrated once again how lucrative the world of professional golf can be.
Related article: How Much Do South African Golfers Really Earn?
