Scottie Scheffler prize money blow as Olympic gold hardly helps record-breaking earnings
Scottie Scheffler’s recent triumph at the Paris Olympics has added a golden accolade to his already stellar year, but his financial reward from the Olympic victory starkly contrasts with the substantial earnings he has amassed through his success on the PGA Tour.
Scheffler, who currently holds the top spot in the world golf rankings, displayed an exceptional performance on the final day of the Olympic golf competition. Starting the day four strokes behind the leaders, Scheffler surged ahead with an impressive nine birdies in a flawless round of 62, finishing 19-under-par. His remarkable play earned him the gold medal, narrowly edging out Tommy Fleetwood from Team Great Britain, who claimed the silver.
This gold medal represents yet another significant milestone in Scheffler’s extraordinary 2024 season. To date, he has secured victories in seven out of 17 events he has competed in this year. Along with the gold medal, Scheffler was awarded 50 world ranking points and a guaranteed entry into the next four major tournaments. However, as the reigning Masters champion, Scheffler had already qualified for these majors.
Despite the honor of winning an Olympic gold medal, the financial reward for this achievement is modest compared to his other earnings. The International Golf Federation, which manages the Olympic golf event, has opted not to provide prize money to medalists, a policy that stands in contrast to the practices in other sports. For example, World Athletics has awarded £39,000 ($50,000) to Noah Lyles for his victory in the 100-meter sprint at the Olympics. Nonetheless, athletes may still receive financial incentives from their respective national Olympic committees.
In Scheffler’s case, he will receive £29,700 ($38,000) from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which is the standard amount given to American gold medalists. This is relatively modest compared to the top Olympic bonuses; for instance, Hong Kong offers the highest reward, with gold medalists receiving an impressive £601,900 ($768,000).
Although the lack of substantial prize money from the Olympics might seem a drawback, Scheffler’s financial success this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. He recently set a new record for the most earnings in a single PGA Tour season. As of now, Scheffler has accumulated £22 million ($28.1 million) across 16 PGA Tour events in 2024, with nearly £13 million ($17 million) coming from just seven high-profile tournaments.
Despite strong performances from other golfers like Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, Scheffler’s accomplishments this year have been unparalleled. His victories include prestigious events such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship, Masters Tournament, RBC Heritage, Memorial Tournament, Travelers Championship, and of course, the 2024 Olympic gold medal. This exceptional performance has catapulted him to seventh place on the PGA’s all-time earnings list, with total earnings of £55.4 million ($70.7 million).
Reflecting on his Olympic success, Scheffler expressed his gratitude and pride: “The guys in front of me were playing really well. I knew I was going to have to do something special coming in, and I was fortunate to make some birdies.” He acknowledged the difficulty of comparing different accomplishments but emphasized that winning an Olympic gold medal would remain a cherished memory in his career. “It’s tough to compare accomplishments, but an Olympic gold medal is definitely going to be one of my special memories when I look back on my career. This was a fun week and it was great representing the USA, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal.”
Overall, while the financial benefits from Olympic success may not be as substantial as those from his PGA Tour victories, Scheffler’s accomplishments on the golf course this year highlight his exceptional skill and dedication, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s most remarkable players.
