The US Open purse is worth $12 million this year - here's what the winner will take home

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Brooks Koepka won $2.2 million last summer after winning the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.

• The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills this weekend for the first time since 2004.
• The last time Shinnecock Hills hosted the tournament, Retief Goosen took home $1.1 million for his win at the notoriously difficult course, with the tournament's total purse at $6.3 million.
• Since then, both the purse and the winner's cut for the major have grown significantly.

This weekend the best golfers in the world will meet at Shinnecock Hills to compete for in the U.S. Open.

Shinnecock Hills is a notoriously difficult course, even for the notoriously difficult tournament - the last time the U.S. Open was held there in 2004, just two players finished their four rounds under par, with Retief Goosen winning $1.1 million and a total purse for the tournament of $6.3 million.

As the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills this year, the player who can best navigate the winds and greens of the course will earn double what Goosen won in 2004, taking home a prize of $2.2 million, along with the honor of winning a major.

The winner's cut of the purse has changed over the years, with both numbers rising quickly as golf continues to grow and bring in more money. Take a look below to see how much more valuable the tournament has become since 2000, and how much the winner of the tournament has taken home each year.

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Both the total purse and winner's cut of the U.S. Open has risen rapidly since 2000.