How the $20 Million Purse Was Distributed at the 2024 RBC Heritage

The 2024 RBC Heritage, held at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, awarded a record $20 million purse — the largest in the tournament’s history. As one of the PGA Tour’s elevated events, the Heritage offers significantly higher payouts than standard tournaments, reflecting its status in the FedEx Cup playoffs structure. Understanding how this prize money is distributed provides insight into the financial incentives driving professional golf’s elite.

PGA Tour Prize Money Distribution Formula

The PGA Tour uses a standardized payout structure for most of its events, including the RBC Heritage. The winner receives 18% of the total purse, with subsequent positions earning progressively smaller percentages based on a predefined sliding scale. This system ensures that while the victor earns a substantial reward, players who make the cut also receive meaningful compensation for their performance.

For the 2024 RBC Heritage, with a $20 million purse:

• Winner (Scottie Scheffler): 18% = $3,600,000
• Runner-up: 10.8% = $2,160,000
• Third place: 6.8% = $1,360,000
• Fourth place: 4.8% = $960,000
• Fifth place: 4% = $800,000
• Tenth place: 2.4% = $480,000
• 20th place: 1.3% = $260,000
• 30th place (cut line): 0.8% = $160,000
• Players who made the cut but finished outside top 30: Payouts decrease incrementally from 0.75% down to 0.2% for 65th place
• 65th place (last to earn money): 0.2% = $40,000

These percentages are derived from the PGA Tour’s official prize money distribution chart, which applies to all standard and elevated events unless otherwise noted for majors or World Golf Championships.

2024 RBC Heritage Winner: Scottie Scheffler

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 RBC Heritage with a final-round 65, finishing at 18-under par — three shots ahead of runner-up Tyrrell Hatton. The victory marked Scheffler’s fifth PGA Tour win of the 2024 season and earned him the tournament’s largest-ever first-place check.

His $3.6 million prize pushed his 2024 PGA Tour earnings past $25 million, further solidifying his dominance in the FedEx Cup standings. Scheffler’s win also came just weeks after his Masters triumph, underscoring his peak form heading into the summer stretch of the schedule.

Source: PGA Tour Official Results – 2024 RBC Heritage

Why the Purse Increased to $20 Million

The $20 million purse at the 2024 RBC Heritage reflects the PGA Tour’s broader strategy to elevate select events as part of its restructured schedule following the agreement with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. Elevated events now feature increased purses, stronger fields and additional FedEx Cup points to incentivize top-player participation.

As an elevated event, the Heritage offers 700 FedEx Cup points to the winner — up from the standard 500 — and attracts nearly the entire top 50 in the world rankings. The increased purse is funded through a combination of expanded sponsorship, media rights revenue, and the Tour’s renewed financial backing post-framework agreement.

Source: PGA Tour Announces Elevated Events Structure – June 2023

Financial Impact on Players

For mid-tier and emerging players, making the cut at an elevated event like the RBC Heritage can be financially transformative. A player finishing 65th — the last to earn a check — walks away with $40,000 before taxes, and expenses. Even missing the cut by a stroke means earning nothing, highlighting the razor-thin margins in professional golf.

Caddies typically receive 10% of their player’s winnings for a win, 7% for a top-10 finish, and 5% for making the cut. Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, earned approximately $360,000 from the victory.

Source: PGA Tour – How Caddies Are Compensated

Conclusion: Purse Size Reflects Golf’s Evolving Economics

The $20 million purse at the 2024 RBC Heritage is more than a headline-grabbing figure — it signals the PGA Tour’s commitment to rewarding excellence while maintaining a competitive, financially viable structure for its players. As the Tour continues to navigate its post-split landscape, elevated events like the Heritage will remain critical in shaping player schedules, earnings, and long-term career sustainability.

For fans, the distribution of prize money offers a transparent look at how performance translates to earnings in one of the world’s most individualistic sports. And for players, every stroke — and every dollar — still matters.