What Do You Get When You Win the PGA Championship? Trophy, Prize Money & More

With the 2023 PGA Championship teeing off this week, there's a lot on the line for the world's top golfers. Not only is there a large amount of money at stake, but the winner of the tournament also earns some special perks and rewards as well.

So what exactly does the winner of the PGA Championship stand to win? Let's dive in.

PGA Championship Winner Prize Money

As with all major golf tournaments, the PGA Championship rewards the winner with a large sum of money. The total winner's pool for the 2023 PGA Championship -- known as the purse -- is $15 million, which is the same amount as last year and the same amount as purse for The Masters.

Of that $15 million, $2.7 million goes to the winner. The second-place finisher gets $1.635 million, third place gets $1.035 million and so on. The payouts decline all the way down to 50th place, which receives $38,550.

Accordingly, every shot can win or lose a golfer millions of dollars, making the pressure even more intense.

What is the PGA Championship Trophy Called?

In addition to prize money, the PGA Championship winner also receives a special trophy called the Wanamaker trophy.

Not only is the Wanamaker trophy one of the most coveted trophies in golf, but it's also one of the biggest in terms of sheer size. The trophy, which is named after businessman and golfer Rodman Wanamaker, is nearly 2 1/2 feet tall and weighs 27 pounds.

The winner gets to keep this trophy for a year before returning it so the next winner can have it. The winner does get a slightly smaller replica version to permanently keep in their trophy case.

PGA Championship Winner Perks

The money and trophy are the main rewards for winning the PGA Championship, but they're not the only ones.

Similar to The Masters, PGA Championship winners get a lifetime exemption to play in the PGA Championship. This allows them to enter the tournament whenever they want without needing to qualify for it.

Anyone who wins the PGA Championship also gets a five-year exemption to play in all four golf majors. That means they'll be able to play in The Open, The Masters, the US Open and the PGA Championship for the next five years without needing to qualify. They also receive a five-year exemption for the Players Championship and a spot in January's Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Winning the PGA Championship also provides a big boost to a golfer's ranking. A win nets him 100 world ranking points and 600 PGA Tour FedEx Cup points, which essentially keeps him in the top 50 of the world rankings for the next 18 months and enables him to play in elevated events with higher purses.

Beyond that, champions earn five-year Tour cards for the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. They also get to set the dinner menu for the following year's PGA Championship dinner, which is held annually on the Tuesday before the tournament.

Check out more of The Duel's PGA Championship content here: