LIV Golf’s Team Championship and PGA Tour’s Championship both have millions up for grabs, but those on the traditional tour can earn more this weekend
The PGA Tour Championship boasts a $40 million prize purse(Image: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The 2025 LIV Golf season will end on Sunday following the conclusion of the Team Championship in Michigan, and the winner of the PGA Tour Championship will also be crowned.
While talks over a PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger have stalled, the two entities continue to operate normally, but this season is nearly over. Scottie Scheffler is aiming to become the first player to win back-to-back Tour Championships, and Ripper GC is attempting to defend its LIV Golf crown.
The PGA Tour boasts a mammoth $40 million prize purse for the Tour Championship, while $50 million is available in the LIV Golf Team Championship. However, because LIV Golf is a team event, those competing on the PGA Tour this weekend will earn more money.
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The Tour Championship follows the standard format, with the 30 qualified players taking on 72 holes played over four rounds. After the final round on Sunday, the player with the lowest score will win $10 million.
Places 1-30 are all paid, but the amount players receive depends on their standing in the leaderboard. The LIV Golf Team Championship format is slightly more confusing and unconventional than that of the PGA Tour.
While the Tour Championship has eliminated starting strokes, meaning all 30 players started at level par on Thursday, the LIV Golf Team Championship is the finale of a 14-tournament accumulation. Players earn points for their team at each tournament, and Legion XIII has a dominant lead.
Jon Rahm won the individual championship and is looking to win the LIV Golf Team Championship with Legion XIII(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
LIV Golf tournaments are only three rounds of 54 holes, usually following the stroke-play format. However, LIV Golf has switched to a matchplay format for the Team Championship in Michigan.
All participating teams faced head-to-head in a six-match quarterfinal on Friday, and the winning groups will compete in a three-match semifinal on Saturday. On Sunday, the action will revert to a stroke-play format as three teams compete in the final.
While the overall prizes are greater in the LIV Golf Team Championship, the team’s operating budget will claim some of the money. The rest is split amongst the players. Barring caddie fees, PGA Tour players will keep their entire prize at the Tour Championship.
Scottie Scheffler has won five tournaments this year, including two majors(Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
However, LIV Golf players received major signing bonuses when joining the new league, while PGA Tour players do not. On the traditional tour, players are considered independent contractors and are paid based on their performance in tournaments.
Jon Rahm, the highest-paid player on the LIV Golf circuit, signed a multi-year deal in December 2023, reportedly worth around $300 million. Rahm also received a 25% stake in his own team.
In contrast, Scheffler, the World No. 1, has earned approximately $150 million on the course throughout his career. He’s one of the favorites to win on the PGA Tour this weekend, and here’s how the purse compares to LIV Golf.
PGA Tour Championship prize money
1st: $10,000,0002nd: $5,000,0003rd: $3,705,0004th: $3,200,0005th: $2,750,0006th: $1,900,0007th: $1,400,0008th: $1,065,0009th: $900,00010th: $735,00011th: $695,00012th: $660,00013th: $625,00014th: $590,00015th: $560,00016th: $505,00017th: $490,00018th: $475,00019th: $460,00020th: $445,00021st: $430,00022nd: $415,00023rd: $400,00024th: $390,00025th: $380,00026th: $375,00027th: $370,00028th: $365,00029th: $360,00030th: $355,000
LIV Golf Team Championship prize money (split among team players)
1st: $14,000,0002nd: $8,000,0003rd: $6,000,0004th: $4,000,0005th: $3,250,0006th: $3,000,0007th: $2,750,0008th: $2,500,0009th: $2,000,00010th: $1,650,00011th: $1,300,00012th: $950,00013th: $600,000
