The PGA Tour's Richest Events

Forbes: The PGA Tour's Richest Events

The majors may have all the glamour, but they are not the richest events in professional golf. On the PGA Tour there are eight events with equal or bigger purses. Here are the top 11.

(Chris Condon/Stan Badz/PGA Tour/Getty Images)

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The PGA Tour's R... The majors may have all the glamour, but they are not the richest events in professional golf. On the PGA Tour there are eight events with equal or bigger purses. Here are the top 11.

(Chris Condon/Stan Badz/PGA Tour/Getty Images)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Northern Trust O... Feb. 17 to Feb. 20
Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Total Purse: $6.5 million
Winner's Take: $1.17 million
Northern Trust, a recipient of TARP money, ran into controversy in 2009 for entertaining VIPs with plush hotel rooms, private flights and a performance by Sheryl Crow. The bank said no TARP money was used. Aaron Baddeley won this year on the course known as "Hogan's Alley."

(Chris Condon/Getty Images)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Wells Fargo Cham... May 5 to May 8
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C.
Total Purse: $6.5 million
Winner's Take: $1.17 million
In 2009 and 2010, this tourney, once known as the Wachovia Championship, went without a sponsor's name. The reason: Wells Fargo wanted to avoid bad press for what seemed like unessential spending at the time. Lucas Glover won the event this year in a playoff.

(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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HP Byron Nelson ... May 26 to May 29
TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas
Total Purse: $6.5 million.
Winner's Take: $1.17 million
Lord Byron Nelson, as he was known, won 18 tournaments (!) in 1945. His total take that year: $63,336. Keegan Bradley, who won this year's tournament, made 18 times that amount. In 2005 Tiger Woods' record streak of 142 cuts-made ended here.

(Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

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The Barclays Aug. 25 to Aug. 28
Plainfield Country Club, Edison, N.J.
Total Purse: $8 million
Winner's Take: $1.35 million
The first of the four-tournament FedEx Cup playoffs. Matt Kuchar is defending champion of what was once known as the Westchester Classic. Jim Furyk missed the event's Pro-Am and was disqualified, but ended up winning the FedEx playoffs a few weeks later anyway.

(Chris Condon/PGA Tour/Getty Images)

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Deutsche Bank Ch... Sept. 2 to Sept. 5
TPC Boston, Norton, Mass.
Total Purse: $8 million
Winner's Take: $1.35 million
The second FedEx Cup playoffs event. This one is held over Labor Day weekend and has a unique, intentional Monday finish. Deutsche Bank's sponsorship ends after next year. Charley Hoffman was last year's surprise winner.

(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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BMW Championship... Sept. 15 to Sept. 18
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Lemont, Ill.
Total Purse: $8 million
Winner's Take: $1.35 million
The third event in the FedEx Cup playoffs was once known as the Western Open. Now takes place primarily in the Midwest, though it will be in Colorado in 2014. BMW signed a six-year deal to sponsor in 2007. Dustin Johnson is the defending champion.

(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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The Tour Champio... Sept. 22 to Sept. 25
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Total Purse: $8 million
Winner's Take: $1.35 million
The last event in the FedEx playoffs. Just the top 30 in FedEx points play, with no cut. Last place earns a not-too-shabby $120,000. The event is sponsored by Coca-Cola. Jim Furyk won this event last year, en route to winning the FedEx playoffs and player of the year on the PGA Tour.

(Zuma Press/Newscom)

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WGC-Accenture Ma... Feb. 23 to Feb. 27
Ritz-Carlton Gold Club, Dove Mountain, Marana, Ariz.
Total Purse: $8.5 million
Winner's Take: $1.4 million
The first of the World Golf Championship events, the Accenture is the premier match-play tournament in the world, save for the Ryder and President's cups. Luke Donald won this year's event.

(Stan Badz/PGA Tour/Getty Images)

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WGC-Cadillac Cha... March 10 to March 13
TPC Blue Monster at Doral, Miami, Florida
Total Purse: $8.5 million
Winner's Take: $1.4 million
Cadillac signed on as the sponsor for this tournament in late 2010. The event has been held a total of 12 times; Tiger Woods has won six of them. Nick Watney won this year.

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
WGC-Bridgestone ... Aug. 4 to Aug. 7
Firestone Country Club (South Course)
Total Purse: $8.5 million
Winner's Take: $1.4 million
Bridgestone is signed on to sponsor this event through 2014. The club was commissioned in 1929 by Harvey Firestone, who wanted a course for his employees. Hunter Mahan won perhaps his biggest tournament to date here last year.

(Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

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The Players Cham... May 12 to May 15
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Total Purse: $9.5 million
Winner's Take: $1.71 million
The richest tournament on the Tour began in 1974. It moved to Pete Dye's Sawgrass Stadium course in 1982. That year the total purse was $500,000. KJ Choi won this year's even in a playoff over David Toms.

(Chris Condon/PGA Tour/Getty Images)

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