RBC Heritage $20M Purse: PGA Tour Player Earnings Breakdown

PGA Tour players earned a total of $20 million in prize money at the 2026 RBC Heritage, with payouts distributed according to the tournament’s official purse structure, as reported by Golfweek and confirmed through PGA Tour financial disclosures.

The winner, Scottie Scheffler, received $3.6 million for his victory at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, marking his second RBC Heritage title and reinforcing his position as the tour’s leading money earner for the 2026 season.

Scheffler’s win, which came by a three-stroke margin over runner-up Ludvig Åberg, pushed his season earnings past the $18 million threshold, further solidifying his lead in the FedEx Cup standings and the official money list.

Åberg, the Swedish star who finished second, earned $2.16 million, while third-place finisher Tom Kim collected $1.36 million. The top five were rounded out by Cameron Smith ($1.02 million) and Justin Thomas ($850,000), each receiving payouts consistent with the PGA Tour’s standard distribution formula for elevated events.

The payout structure followed the PGA Tour’s established model for signature events, where the winner receives 18% of the purse, second place gets 10.8%, third place 6.8%, fourth 5.1%, and fifth 4.25%. The remaining $11.01 million was distributed among the 65 players who made the cut, with amounts decreasing incrementally down to $12,500 for those tied for 65th place.

Players who missed the cut received $3,500 each, a standard guarantee for PGA Tour events that do not offer appearance fees. A total of 78 professionals competed in the field, with 13 failing to advance to the weekend rounds.

The RBC Heritage, now in its 53rd iteration, remains one of the PGA Tour’s most prestigious traditional events, known for its challenging layout, strong field, and consistent sponsorship from RBC Wealth Management. The tournament’s purse has increased steadily over the past five years, rising from $15 million in 2021 to $20 million in 2026, reflecting broader growth in golf’s commercial value and media rights revenue.

According to PGA Tour financial reports released in February 2026, the tour’s total prize money across all events exceeded $420 million for the 2025–2026 season, a 12% increase from the prior year, driven by new broadcast agreements and expanded international partnerships.

Industry analysts note that the RBC Heritage’s consistent purse growth and status as a non-opposing, elevated event make it a key stop for top players seeking both ranking points and significant earnings without the scheduling conflicts of major championships or World Golf Championships.

As of April 20, 2026, Scheffler leads the PGA Tour money list with $18.4 million in official earnings, followed by Åberg at $12.1 million and Kim at $9.8 million. The RBC Heritage payouts contributed meaningfully to these totals, underscoring the tournament’s role in shaping the season’s financial hierarchy.

No changes to the payout structure or field size are anticipated for the 2027 edition, with tournament officials confirming continuity in format and purse level as part of the PGA Tour’s redesigned schedule framework.