Everything Scottie Scheffler wins as Open Champion

Everything Scottie Scheffler wins as Open Champion

Winning the year’s final men’s major comes with a lot of riches – and we don’t just mean the $3.1m first prize…

Victory in the game’s oldest major championship etches the winner’s name into history alongside greats of the game like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Rory McIlroy, and Lee Trevino.

But as well as receiving a huge payday and the adulation of their peers and golf fans across the world, winning The Open provides plenty more to celebrate…

What does Scottie Scheffler receive as Champion Golfer of the Year?

First and foremost, Scheffler is instantaneously bestowed the coolest title in any sport: Champion Golfer of the Year.

Heading into the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, just 90 men could say they’ve been called that. Scheffler will also get to see his name on that famous congratulatory message on the yellow leaderboard on Sunday night.

More importantly, Scheffler becomes the winner of the oldest major championship in golf, and gets his name etched onto the famous Claret Jug, which will remain his until the next year’s tournament. The champion returns the silverware to the R&A’s chief executive on the Monday of the next Open, with the ceremonial handover taking place outside of the players’ entrance. Once the original Claret Jug is given back, the defending champion is given a replica to keep.

The Open originally awarded its winner with the Challenge Belt (1860-1870), but this was permanently given to Tom Morris Jr after he won three consecutive tournaments.

It also meant there was no tournament in 1871, because they did not have a trophy to hand out. The Gold Medal, which is still awarded to this day, was introduced in 1872. The medal gets engraved with the course, the champion’s name, and the number of strokes they took en route to victory.

The Claret Jug was first given to the winner in 1873. Since 1960, the Champion Golfer’s name has been engraved onto the silver by The R&A before it is handed over. Before that, players were expected to get the engraving done themselves, but this changed when Gary Player returned the trophy after his 1959 victory with his name etched in significantly larger text than anyone else’s.

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A special spot in the locker room

Scheffler will have access to the champions-only Champions Corner in the locker room at Royal Birkdale for the 154th tournament next year.

The R&A have introduced the spot to mark past champions’ achievements, with the reigning Amateur Champion also given access.

And, just in case the defending champ has forgotten his victory, there’s a huge image of them holding the Claret Jug as a cool reminder.

Does winning the Open come with playing exemptions?

It certainly does. Victory guarantees entry to the Open Championship until the age of 55. That exemption changed in 2024, and anyone who won the tournament prior to that can play until they’re 60.

It also gains them five-year exemptions to the Masters, PGA Championship, and US Open, along with a five-year exemption into the Players Championship, and the security of a PGA Tour card for the same amount of time.

Lifting the Claret Jug also ensures Scheffler an automatic invitation to three of the five senior majors once he turns 50, with a one-year invitation to the US Senior Open and a lifetime invitation to the Senior PGA Championship and Senior Open Championship.

A ton of world ranking points

Scheffler will receive 100 Official World Golf Ranking points – the biggest total on offer in professional golf, and the same number offered to the winner at the Masters, PGA Championship, and US Open. It ensures another large extension of the lead at the top for Scheffler!

And FedEx Cup points?

Absolutely! Winning The Open gives a huge boost to the Scheffler’s FedEx Cup ranking with 750 points added to his tally. It’s the maximum regular season allowance and the same as offered in the other three majors and the Players.

Still, it’s a long way short of the 2,000 points that go to the first two FedEx Cup Playoff tournament winners, but it does go a long way to getting them into the Tour Championship at East Lake.

What about Ryder Cup points?

Ah, yes, this is a Ryder Cup year, so the majors hold more significance than ever with a hell of a lot of points on offer as we head towards the end of qualification for September’s clash at Bethpage.

Every American who completed all four rounds earnd 1.5 Ryder Cup points per $1,000 earned – a significant increase from the standard 1 point per $1,000 awarded at regular PGA Tour events. While a win at Portrush would have virtually secured a Ryder Cup spot for any American not yet qualified, in this case, Scheffler, who emerged victorious, had already clinched his place on Keegan Bradley’s team.

If a European had been victorious at Portrush, they’d have received 835 points, which is significantly more than offered at The Players and Signature Events. Even Rolex Series events only get 335, while regular DP World Tour events give 168 or 250 points to the winner.

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Are there any other rewards for the winner?

The Professional Golfers’ Association (of Great Britain and Ireland) also marks the achievements of its own members in The Open with the Ryle Memorial Medal awarded to the winner.

Since 1966, the Braid Taylor Memorial Medal has been given to the highest finishing PGA member and, since 1924, the Tooting Bec Cup has been given to the PGA member with the lowest round in the tournament.

Does anyone else receive a prize at The Open?

Yes. The runner-up receives a silver salver and $1,759,000 in prize money. The top four players, including ties, all guarantee themselves a place in the field at next year’s Masters, while the top 10 players will be in the field for The Open again next year. And of course, there’s a pay cheque for everyone (barring amateurs), even those who miss the cut!

What does the leading amateur receive?

While amateurs playing The Open cannot receive prize money, there’s still plenty to play for. Since 1949, the leading amateur golfer after the final round has received the Silver Medal, and, since 1972, any other amateur who competes in the final round receives the Bronze Medal.

Calum Scott took the leading amateur honours in 2024, but unfortunately, the medals will not be handed out at Portrush, with all nine amateurs missing the cut.

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