There is no prize money at the Presidents Cup. Not for the winners, not for the runners-up, not for individual matches. Twenty four of the best players outside of LIV Golf spend four days at Medinah competing for a trophy and nothing else.
Where the Money Goes Instead
The net proceeds from the event are distributed to charities. The recipients are nominated by the players themselves, along with the captains and assistant captains, so each competitor effectively directs a share toward a cause he chooses.
The scale is not trivial. The first ten editions of the Presidents Cup raised more than 32 million dollars for charities around the world.
How That Compares to a Normal Week
The contrast is stark. A regular PGA Tour event pays out millions, and the players teeing it up at Medinah are the same ones who collect seven-figure cheques most other weeks of the year. For one week in September, the highest earners in the sport play for free.
| Event type | Player payout |
|---|---|
| Presidents Cup | None. Proceeds go to player-nominated charities |
| Standard PGA Tour event | Full purse, paid by finishing position |
| Major championship | Full purse, paid by finishing position |
Why It Was Built This Way
The PGA Tour created the Presidents Cup in 1994 and structured it as a charitable event from the start. That framing is also why every edition has an honorary chairman who is the sitting head of state or head of government of the host country, beginning with Gerald Ford in 1994.
It is worth being precise about one thing: no prize money does not mean no money. Players still receive the commercial benefits that come with playing on a global stage, and their sponsors get four days of television. What does not exist is a purse.
What About the Captains
Captains and assistant captains are not paid a competition purse either. Like the players, they nominate charities that receive a portion of the proceeds. Brandt Snedeker leads the United States at Medinah and Geoff Ogilvy captains the International team.
The Bottom Line
Nobody at the Presidents Cup is playing for a cheque. The money raised goes to charity, the players pick the causes, and the only thing at stake on the course is the cup itself.
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