The world No. 1 began his opening round late on Thursday at the Masters andfaced some of the most challenging conditions of the entire week, with the course becoming considerably firmer as the day wore on. By Friday, the layout had been softened after significant watering overnight, making scoring easier. Yet despite the more forgiving conditions, Scheffler couldn’t capitalise and close the deficit.
Scheffler produced a superb weekend fightback with rounds of 65 and 68 to reach 11-under par, but a patchy opening left him with too much to do, even though he became the first golfer in 84 years to card a bogey-free finale. Despite narrowing the margin late on, McIlroy clung on with a one-under 71 to claim the title. It comes after Bryson DeChambeau fumed over LIV Golf playing conditions after collapse rumors.
The financial rewards at the Masters were substantial, with a record £16.6million ($22.5m) prize fund in 2026, up from £15.5m ($21m) the year before. McIlroy banked £3.3m ($4.5m), while Scheffler collected £1.7m ($2.43m) for his second-place finish.
A quartet of players including Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose, and Cameron Young each pocketed £798,000 ($1.08m) after sharing third spot. What Scheffler, alongside every player at Augusta, cannot escape is the tax liability that accompanies prize money earned on American territory. Research by AskGamblers has shown that Scheffler stands to forfeit over £739,000 ($1m) of his earnings owing to the rules.
Every golfer taking part at the Masters faces a combined tax rate of 41.99% in 2026, comprising the US federal tax withholding rate of 37% and Georgia’s 2026 state tax rate of 4.99%. When applied to Scheffler’s £1.7m ($2.43m) haul, that generates a tax liability of £739,000 ($1,020,357).
The total tax bill for the entire 2026 Masters field is estimated at £6.9m ($9.4m), an increase of £402,000 ($545,850) from the year before. For comparison, the Masters now sits amongst the most lucrative events in golf, although it remains behind The Players Championship, which tops the sport with an £18.4m ($25m) prize fund.
Meanwhile, the PGA Championship offered £14m ($19m) last year, while The Open Championship stood at £12.5m ($17m). The U.S. Open reached £15.8m ($21.5m), but Augusta’s £16.6m ($22.5m) purse in 2026 firmly establishes the Masters amongst golf’s most rewarding tournaments.
Scheffler’s display at Augusta, marked by weekend rounds of 65 and 68, suggested a return to his exceptional, title-winning form as he charged back into contention for the Green Jacket. It represented a notable reversal from his pre-Masters difficulties, during which he dropped outside the top 10 in three successive outings after his extraordinary streak of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes came to a halt in February.