British Open prize money soars, champion to win $1.8 million

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - The British Open champion at St. Andrews next month will win 1.15 million pounds ($1.8 million), an increase of 175,000 pounds ($275,000) from 2014.

The R&A announced on Wednesday that overall prize money for the third major of the year has soared by $1.42 million to almost $10 million.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson says ''this increase is appropriate for an event with The Open's global appeal.''

The British Open starts on July 16. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion.