Oakmont wasn’t easy on anyone this year, but the payoff still made the bruises worth it. It paid handsomely for perseverance. The 2025 U.S. Open stuck with its record-high $21.5 million purse and became the richest major of the season.
While scores ran high, prize money did too. These were the 15 players who walked away with the biggest checks.
Chris Kirk – $348,967
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Kirk shared 12th place with six others, managing the course’s thick rough and slippery greens with mature shot choices. He didn’t make noise on the leaderboard, but by limiting errors and finishing strong, he pocketed $348,967. It was a professional, workmanlike effort that paid off well in a tough setting.
Xander Schauffele – $348,967
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Xander doesn’t make a lot of noise on the course, and that’s kind of his thing. He played smart, stayed out of trouble, and cruised to a tie for 12th. While others panicked, Schauffele was all about balance and brains.
Brooks Koepka – $348,967
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If you know Koepka, you know majors are his playground. While this wasn’t one for the highlight reel, his steady hand and no-nonsense approach got him through. A tie for 12th isn’t too wild, but neither was Oakmont this week. Another check, another reminder why Brooks always finds his way into major money.
Adam Scott – $348,967
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Scott’s Sunday round unraveled quickly alongside playing partner Sam Burns, but earlier efforts kept him from sliding out of the top 15. His T12 finish earned him nearly $349,000. It wasn’t the close he hoped for, but he still banked a significant payout after a long, grinding weekend.
11. Russell Henley – $465,937
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Henley didn’t win style points, but he might’ve earned an honorary degree in Risk Management. While chaos broke out around him, he kept things clean and cautious while sliding into a tie for 10th. His reward was nearly half a million bucks, which is another example of why slow and steady often cashes big.
Ben Griffin – $465,937
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Griffin continued his strong season with a tie for tenth. Though he never contended for the lead, his ball striking held up through the toughest rounds. He earned 165 FedEx Cup points and pushed past 2,000 for the year. The paycheck added a highlight to a breakout campaign.
Sam Burns – $614,423
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Burns was in the final pairing, but his round spiraled into double digits over par. Still, his earlier rounds kept him inside the top 10, tied for seventh. He remained composed enough to secure a strong payout.
Jon Rahm – $614,423
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Rahm’s poker face might’ve been his most important club this week. His reward for grinding it out with pars and patience was $614,423, and it also served as a reminder that majors aren’t always won—they’re survived.
7. Scottie Scheffler – $614,423
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There’s something annoyingly dependable about Scheffler, isn’t there? Even without his best stuff, he still finds his way to the top of the leaderboards. Tied for seventh, he added another 225 FedEx Cup points and over $600K. Not bad for a “meh” week.
6. Cameron Young – $876,869
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Late birdies on Sunday rescued Young’s round and his paycheck. He climbed into a tie for fourth at three-over and left Oakmont with $876,869, his second-largest haul of the year. Some players avoid Oakmont’s trouble, but Young is not one of them.
Carlos Ortiz – $876,869
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Ortiz matched Young and Hatton at three-over by playing steady golf and steering clear of double bogeys. He didn’t light up the scorecard but kept his composure through the final stretch. The $876,869 he earned ties his best-ever performance in a major and proves he belongs on this stage.
4. Tyrrell Hatton – $876,869
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Hatton showed unusual restraint this week by focusing more on his shots than on expressing frustration. That mindset shift worked at Oakmont, where staying level was half the battle. His tie for fourth landed him a $876,869 payday—well-earned given how many players let the course get the better of them.
Viktor Hovland – $1,459,284
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Hovland’s irons were dialed, and his Sunday grit pulled him into solo third at two-over. With the flatstick misbehaving, he leaned on precision and patience. Nearly $1.5 million later, it’s clear why he’s become a major weekend regular.
Robert MacIntyre – $2,322,000
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MacIntyre had a moment. Actually, he had several. He birdied 14 and 17 to put pressure on the leader and looked poised to steal the show. Then came Spaun’s 64-footer. Still, solo second and $2.322 million is the kind of heartbreak you can live with (and maybe even celebrate).
J.J. Spaun – $4,300,000
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Oakmont demanded a hero, and Spaun delivered. That curling, 64-foot birdie on 18 was the shot of the tournament and a millionaire-maker. His one-under total stood alone, and so did his paycheck: a jaw-dropping $4.3 million. With it, he shot up to sixth in the FedEx Cup and maybe onto the Ryder Cup radar.
