Payroll in Golf

Did you know? Troon and Invited Clubs both have more than 10,000 staff on their payroll.

Obscure Terms

A couple of the more obscure terms in golf:

• Fried Egg: A ball that lands half-buried in the sand inside a bunker.
• Chili-Dip: Striking the ground hard behind the ball with your club during a chip shot.
• Dog License: A crushing 7-and-6 defeat during match play.

Official Prize Money

The 2026 PGA Tour season features a total of $564.8 million in official tournament purses across 45 events.

Charity?

Prior to 2022, the PGA Tour didn’t provide a direct payout to players competing in the Presidents Cup. This year, each team player received a $250,000 “stipend” to cover expenses like travel and lodging. For an event that has charity at its core, it seems $250,000 might be excessive for a four-day commitment.