The Open 2022 prize money: How much will the winner make?

Biggest names in golf go head-to-head at St Andrews

Rory McIlroy lines up a putt on the 17th green during a practice round for The Open at St Andrews in Scotland on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. AFP

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy prepares to play out of a bunker on the 16th hole on the Old Course at St Andrews. AP

Rory McIlroy on the 17th tee at St Andrews. AFP

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts during a practice round ahead of The Open. Getty

Rory McIlroy during practice at St Andrews ahead of The Open. Reuters

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy during a practice round ahead of The Open. Reuters

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot during the practice at St Andrews. Getty

Rory McIlroy drives the ball on the 17th tee at St Andrews. PA

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy on the 18th green on the Old Course at St Andrews. PA

Rory McIlroy putts off a road next to the 17th green. PA

St Andrews hosts the 150th Open from Thursday with Rory McIlroy starting as the favourite for the Claret Jug while a determined Tiger Woods hopes to make an impact at a venue where he has triumphed twice before.

Record crowds for the week of 290,000 are expected on Scotland's coast for this landmark edition of the world's oldest golf tournament, which comes to the Old Course for the 30th time.

With fine weather expected to continue for much of the week, it is shaping up to be a fitting way to mark a historic Open, even if the sport continues to be rocked by the fallout caused by the breakaway LIV Series.

Players who left to join the Saudi-backed tour were allowed to take part by Open organisers, just as they were at last month's US Open despite both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour moving to ban the rebels.

That means four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and former Open champion Phil Mickelson will all tee off on Thursday.

Tiger Woods prepares for Open

McIlroy, though, is aiming to end an eight-year wait to add to his four major titles and the Northern Irishman is the favourite in the eyes of experts.

“I think it's the holy grail of our sport. So not a lot of people are going to get that opportunity to achieve that, but that's what winning an Open at St Andrews is,” McIlroy said.

There is certainly plenty of money swirling around in golf, and the prize money at St Andrews is sizeable.

How much prize money is on offer?

1st £2.1 million ($2.5million)

2nd £1.2 million ($1.45million)

3rd £773,000 ($930,000)

4th £602,000 ($725,000)

5th £482,000 ($580,000)

6th £419,800 ($505,000)

7th £360,700 ($434,000)

8th £304,200 ($366,000)

9th £266,800 ($321,000)

10th £241,000 ($290,000)

The amount then goes down all the way to 70th place, who takes home £26,750 ($32,200) after making the cut.