Cognizant Classic had bigger prize than all four | Golf News

The Cognizant Classic is at the moment underway at PGA National Resort, where 123 gamers are competing for a portion of a prize purse that was once among the most profitable on the PGA Tour.

123 opponents are vying for a share of $9.6 million if they advance to the weekend, which incorporates a $1.728 million prize for the champion. At one stage in historical past, though, the Cognizant Classic’s top prize exceeded that of all four major championships.

Initially called the Jackie Gleason Classic in 1972, it featured a winner’s prize of $52,000, claimed by Tom Weiskopf, a sum better than all four majors that 12 months.

The Jackie Gleason Classic also featured the most important purse on the PGA Tour at that time, reaching $260,000. That same 12 months, the champion’s share for major tournaments was significantly smaller: the Masters winner collected only $25,000, the U.S. Open champion secured $30,000, the PGA Championship distributed $45,000, and the Open Championship winner obtained just $13,750.

In 1972, the tour performed 68 occasions with purses amounting to $7,549,000. In 2026, the FedExCup common season includes just 35 occasions, and Jacob Bridgeman collected over half that whole just last 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 said 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 always good recollections. I bear in mind when it was at Mirasol. It was always a lot of enjoyable getting up close to the fellows, seeing every part, and then 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 and just really feel your own comforts when you get home.”