The winner of the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 will take home the largest purse in the history of golf major championships, the USGA announced on Wednesday.

“They'll be playing for $21.5 million, which means our winner's purse will be a $4.3 million check to the winner,” USGA CEO Mike Whan revealed in his pre-tournament press conference.

“We want to make sure that our purse maxes how we feel about the best of our championship, which is a life-changing difference in the game, and I think we're there and we'll continue to kind of monitor that,” added Whan.

The purse for the 2024 Masters was $20 million. Scottie Scheffler took home $3.6 million along with his first green jacket. The eight Signature Events on the PGA Tour calendar feature $20 million purses with 20 percent going to the champion. Scheffler has won three of those in 2024 — the Arnold Player Invitational, the RBC Heritage, and the Memorial.

The Players Championship has the largest purse among PGA Tour events, at $25 million. Scheffler triumphed at TPC Sawgrass, too, pocketing $4.5 million. (In related news: He's pretty good.)

In general, the PGA Tour — which does not operate the four majors — has increased its prize money in recent years amid financial competition from LIV Golf. Scheffler has earned $24 million in prize money in 2024 — already a PGA Tour single-season record. It's June.

The first two FedExCup Playoffs events — the FedEx St. Jude Championship (Aug. 15-18) and the BMW Championship (Aug. 22-25) will have $20 million purses, too. The purse for the TOUR Championship (Aug. 28-31) is TBD.

Last month's PGA Championship doled out an $18.5 million purse. Wanamaker Trophy Winner Xander Schauffele netted $3.3 million. The Open Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland (July 18-21), which is operated by the R&A, has not yet announced its purse for the 2024 edition. Last year's winner, Brian Harman earned $3 million of its $16.5 million purse.

“If we went a million higher than some others, they'd just go a million, and I'm not really sure that's the best answer,” explained Whan. “But I don't think anybody who wins this week and walks away with $4.3 million, and quite frankly all the other that comes with winning the US Open, is going to question whether or not that was an event that's changing.

“We're proud of our purse. I'm proud of the fact that we as an organization consistently ask ourselves whether or not we think we've got our purse right, our TV right. All of those things have changed quite a bit in the last few years, and change is uncomfortable, but I think we're not only keeping up with the times, but hopefully at least in the landscape of majors, in a lot of these cases we're leading. You guys can decide if you think that's right or wrong, but that's how we think about it.”

Whan also said the USGA would consider creating a direct path for high-performing LIV Golf members to enter future US Opens outside of the traditional qualifying route.

The 2024 US Open begins on Thursday at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the heavy favorite (+280!, per FanDuel). He'll be grouped with Schauffele and Rory McIlroy for Rounds 1 and 2. Get your popcorn ready.