Cognizant Classic had bigger prize than all four – Sports News
The Cognizant Classic is at present underway at PGA National Resort, the place 123 gamers are competing for a portion of a prize purse that was as soon as among the many most profitable on the PGA Tour.
123 rivals are vying for a share of $9.6 million in the event that they advance to the weekend, which incorporates a $1.728 million prize for the champion. At one stage in historical past, although, the Cognizant Classic’s prime prize exceeded that of all four main championships.
Initially referred to as the Jackie Gleason Classic in 1972, it featured a winner’s prize of $52,000, claimed by Tom Weiskopf, a sum larger than all four majors that yr.
The Jackie Gleason Classic additionally featured the most important purse on the PGA Tour at that time, reaching $260,000. That similar yr, the champion’s share for main tournaments was significantly smaller: the Masters winner collected solely $25,000, the U.S. Open champion secured $30,000, the PGA Championship distributed $45,000, and the Open Championship winner acquired simply $13,750.
In 1972, the tour performed 68 occasions with purses amounting to $7,549,000. In 2026, the FedExCup common season contains simply 35 occasions, and Jacob Bridgeman collected over half that whole simply final week with a $4 million windfall from his victory at The Genesis Invitational.
Regardless of the financial implications, Koepka is thrilled to be back on the PGA Tour, having departed LIV Golf forward of the 2026 season and strolling away from a reported $100 million remaining on his contract.
“Yeah, I mean, growing up here, it was — I came every year,” Koepka mentioned forward of the match.
“I remember carrying the sign. From probably when I was nine, ten years old until probably maybe a junior, senior in high school I remember carrying the sign.
“It’s at all times good recollections. I keep in mind when it was at Mirasol. It was at all times a lot of enjoyable getting up close to the fellows, seeing every part, after which clearly having the ability to play in it’s particular. It’s good.
“My whole family and friends get to come out and see, and they’re not able to all the time. It’s a nice event. It’s definitely weird staying at home. You just get so accustomed to living out of a suitcase or hotel or whatever.
“But it is pleasant. It’s good to come back back and simply really feel your own comforts once you get home.”
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