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The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the British Open are collectively known as the Majors, representing the most prestigious tournaments in men's golf. As of April 2026, Jack Nicklaus had won the most major championships with a total of 18. 

Which golf tournament has the highest prize fund?

Although it is not a major championship, the Players Championship typically has the highest prize fund among leading golf tournaments in recent years. In 2025, prize money for the Players Championship totaled 25 million U.S. dollars, with winner Rory McIlroy receiving over four million U.S. dollars. The U.S. Open's total prize fund followed, trailing by 3.5 million U.S. dollars. As for the highest-earning golfers, Tiger Woods led the list with over 120 million U.S. dollars in career earnings as of 2025, while Phil Mickelson ranked second, having earned over 96 million U.S. dollars throughout his career.

How popular is golf in the U.S.?

In 2025, the final round of the Masters Tournament attracted the highest average U.S. TV audience out of the Majors, with approximately 14 million viewers. Meanwhile, the U.S. Open ranked second, averaging around 5.4 million viewers that year. Additionally, when surveyed about their interest in golf in 2023, about 11 percent of U.S. adults identified as avid fans, while over 20 percent considered themselves casual fans.