British Open Prize Money 2022: Total Purse Info for Old Course at St. Andrews

The Open Championship is back at the Old Course in. St. Andrews, Scotland, for the first time since 2015 and, in keeping with the times, the payout is bigger than ever.

To commemorate the tournament's 150th year, the total purse is $14 million, which is up 22 percent from last year.

That means the lucky golfer who raises the Claret Jug aloft in victory will also take home a hefty paycheck to the tune of $2.5 million.

"There have been significant changes in prize money over the last year," R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said in a statement. "We have therefore increased the prize fund by 22 percent, which means that the prize money has increased by more than 60 percent since 2016.

"We have made this substantial investment while balancing our wider commitments to developing golf at all levels around the world and to continuing to elevate the AIG Women’s Open."

Here's the full breakdown of the prize money that will be rewarded to the top 70 golfers in the field.

Prize Money Breakdown

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 12: Detailed view of a pin flag on a putting green during a practice round prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 12, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Full breakdown available at TheOpen.com

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 11: Collin Morikawa of The United States tees off the 2nd during a practice round prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 11, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

There's no getting around it: When it comes to professional golf, LIV Golf has become the elephant in the room, and it's no different for the top golfers in the world that will be competing in The Open Championship this year.

Some big-name players associated with LIV have gotten the cold shoulder leading up to the tournament. Greg Norman was not invited to the annual champions dinner, and Phil Mickelson was invited but elected not to attend.

So while Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus, defending champ Collin Morikawa and a host of other golfing greats were in attendance, the absence of Norman and Mickelson was palpable.

And that's intentional, as the R&A's Martin Slumbers is not a fan of LIV and neither are players like Woods and McIlroy.

"In my opinion, there's no room in the golf world for LIV Golf. Let's put it that way," McIlroy told Kyle Porter of Golf Digest. "I don't agree with what LIV is doing. If LIV went away tomorrow, I'd be super happy. My stance hasn't softened on that."

However, McIlroy was a little more forgiving when he spoke about LIV players participating in the Open Championship.

"Selfishly, for me, yes," McIlroy told ESPN's Tom Hamilton when asked whether The Open winner this year should not be part of LIV Golf. "But at the end of the day, everyone that's here has the same opportunity to go out there and try to win a Claret Jug, regardless of what Tour they play on or whatever that is.

"Whoever wins here at the end of the week should be commended for one of the greatest achievements this game has to offer."

Outside of the infighting among golfers, there are plenty of storylines to follow, including the possibility of Morikawa going for the repeat, Woods ending things on a high note, McIlroy ending his drought with another major and Xander Schauffele getting the chance to finally win his first major.

Schauffele's on a hot streak, so there's a good chance that he keeps up the momentum, but all the oddsmakers have McIlroy getting the Claret Jug.

No matter who wins, though, golf fans around the world should be excited about watching their favorite players get tested on one of the most historic courses in the sport.