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Guide

How much did PGA Tour players make in 2017?

In 2017, the typical PGA Tour regular (one of the 229 players with 10 or more official starts) earned $845,028 in prize money. The 125th player on the money list made $774,058 and the leader made $9,781,335. Of the 614 players who started at least one event, many on a one-off invitation or qualifier, 235 earned nothing.

$845KMedian regular (10+ starts), 2017
$774KNo. 125 on the money list
103Players who made $1M+

What each spot on the 2017 money list paid

Official prize money only.

  • 379 players earned prize money
  • 103 topped $1 million
  • 8 topped $5 million
  • 0 topped $10 million
RankPlayerPrize money
No. 1Justin Thomas$9,781,335
No. 5Jon Rahm$6,123,248
No. 10Brian Harman$4,356,444
No. 25Louis Oosthuizen$3,087,758
No. 50Sung Kang$1,943,309
No. 70Emiliano Grillo$1,567,014
No. 100Bubba Watson$1,082,904
No. 125Ben Martin$774,058
No. 150Alex Cejka$590,276
No. 200K.J. Choi$275,051

What a single week pays

Purses are split by finishing position, and only players who make the cut get paid. These are the 2017 medians across official events.

$7.0M
Median purse
$1.3M
Median winner's check
$20K
Average smallest check (last to make the cut)
$38K
Median earnings per start (10+ starts)
43%
Starts that ended in a missed cut ($0)

The winner usually takes 18% of the purse. See the price of a made cut and missed cuts and $0 seasons.

How pay has changed

The median regular (10+ official starts) earned $457,293 in 2001, $845,028 in 2017 and $1,416,062 in 2025. Not adjusted for inflation. Click a bar for that year's guide. The 2026 bar is the season so far.

$0$500K$1.0M$1.5M01$457K02030405060708091011121314151617$845K181920212223242526

No. 125 on the money list

$0$500K$1.0M$1.5M0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526

The top earners in 2017

Full 2017 money list →

Prize money is not take-home pay

Every figure on this page is gross official prize money. It leaves out FedEx Cup bonuses, which are paid separately and can be worth millions to the top players, and it leaves out endorsements and appearance fees, which aren't reported.

Players pay their own way. A caddie typically takes about 5% of a check, rising to around 10% for a win, and players also pay for travel, lodging, coaching and fitness staff, plus tax in the states and countries where they earn it. A player near the bottom of the money list can lose money in a season.

LIV Golf and DP World Tour earnings aren't included in these totals. See career earnings across all tours. See the methodology for exactly what is counted.

How much PGA Tour players made, year by year

The same guide for every season. Each page has that year's money-list ladder, what a week paid and its top earners.

← 20162018 →

Frequently asked questions

How much did the average PGA Tour player make in 2017?

In 2017 the median PGA Tour regular, one of the 229 players with 10 or more official starts, earned $845,028 in official prize money. Counting everyone who started at least one event, including one-off invitations and qualifiers, the median was $32,995.

How much did the last player to make the cut earn in 2017?

In 2017 the smallest check at an official event averaged $20,347. Players who miss the cut earn nothing.

How much did a PGA Tour winner make in 2017?

The median winner's check in 2017 was $1,260,000, usually 18% of the purse. The biggest winner's check that season was $2,160,000.

How many PGA Tour players made $1 million in 2017?

103 players earned at least $1 million in official prize money in 2017, and 0 earned at least $10 million.

Who made the most money on the PGA Tour in 2017?

Justin Thomas led the 2017 money list with $9,781,335 in official prize money.

Do PGA Tour players pay their caddies?

Yes. Caddies are usually paid a weekly fee plus a share of the player's check, typically about 5%, rising to around 10% for a win.