GOLF

These are the top 20 in PGA Tour Champions career prize money payouts

Todd Kelly

USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 12, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET

In 1978, the first Legends of Golf was held at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas.

Two years later, the Senior PGA Tour had its first two official tournaments. Don January and Arnold Palmer won those first events.

From there, the circuit grew and in 1990, Lee Trevino became the first golfer to win $1 million in a season. In 2002, the tour was rebranded as the Champions Tour. In 2015, it took on its current name, the PGA Tour Champions.

Bernhard Langer became the winningest golfer in Champions history in 2023 when he got to No. 46, breaking a mark long held by Hale Irwin. Langer is also the top money-winner all-time on the tour.

He's one of three players to reach the $20 million mark. Six players on this list have surpassed the $15 million mark. There are 31 at $10 million.

As you make your way through this list, keep in mind:

Gary Player is 90th all-time with $6,049,029
Jack Nicklaus ranks 147th with $3,372,207
Arnold Palmer is 211th with $1,765,795

There are 649 names listed in all, with Mike Balliet bringing up the rear with $736 in career tour earnings.

Check out this list of the all-time money winners on the PGA Tour Champions. Updated through the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Source: PGATour.com.