The amount of prize money awarded to the winners of the men’s golf event at the Olympic Games varies as it is determined by the respective Olympic Committees of each country. Therefore, Scottie Scheffler, who won the gold medal, and Hideki Matsuyama, the bronze medalist, received a modest sum of money.
Tommy Fleetwood, the silver medalist, did not receive any monetary compensation… This is one of the unique aspects of the Olympic Games. As Rory McIlroy explained, it is similar to the Ryder Cup. It is a highly regarded event that evokes special emotions for the athletes, but golf champions do not participate solely for financial gain.
Compared to the enormous amounts they can earn in major tournaments (not to mention the exorbitant sums circulating in the LIV), the Olympic Games are not financially rewarding for most athletes. In fact, they are far from it. The National Olympic Committees are responsible for determining the bonuses for medal-winning and placed athletes.
However, the decisions made by these Committees vary greatly. Out of the 206 nations participating in the Olympic Games, only around fifty countries provide substantial financial bonuses to their athletes (see below). Nations such as Great Britain, Sweden, and Norway do not offer any financial incentives.
Among the generous countries, the United States stands out. Scottie Scheffler received a sum of $38,000 from the American Olympic Committee for his gold medal. This amount may seem insignificant to the world’s number one golfer, whose total prize money for the current season alone exceeds $28 million.
Meanwhile, the FedExCup play-offs are approaching… Nevertheless, this did not prevent the Olympic champion from shedding tears on the podium during the American national anthem. Hideki Matsuyama, on the other hand, received $6,000 from the Japanese Olympic Committee.
It is worth noting that Matsuyama has accumulated over $51 million in tournament winnings throughout his career. However, he was overjoyed on the podium. As for Tommy Fleetwood, he did not receive any financial compensation.
At least not in terms of money. This is because the British Olympic Committee does not provide bonuses to its medalists. Nevertheless, this did not diminish the Englishman’s emotions, as he was deeply moved by his medal. Fourth-place finisher Victor Perez also did not receive any monetary reward, as France does not offer bonuses to non-medalists, unlike some other countries.
Bonuses awarded by countries to their Olympic medalists (in Euros)* Hong Kong (most generous): Gold – €703,000; Silver – €351,000; Bronze – €175,000 Singapore: Gold – €680,000; Silver – €330,000; Bronze – €170,000 … Spain: Gold – €94,000; Silver – €47,500; Bronze – €17,000 France: Gold – €80,000; Silver – €40,000; Bronze – €15,000 United States: Gold – €34,700; Silver – €21,000; Bronze – €13,700 Japan: Gold – €29,300; Silver – €11,900; Bronze – €5,500 *Other countries provide non-monetary benefits, such as Lithuania, which covers the rent of its medalists until the end of their careers, or Poland, which offers a diamond and an apartment in Warsaw in addition to a bonus. It should also be noted that the bonuses paid by the CNOSF are subject to taxation…
Photo from Scottie Scheffler Instagram
