Winner of next month’s Open will receive more than £1m in prizemoney

 R&A confirms total pot for St Andrews has increased by £900,000
‘This increase is appropriate for an event with the Open’s global appeal’

The winner of the Open Championship will earn more than £1m for the first time ever at St Andrews next month, the R&A announced on Wednesday.

The overall prize fund for the game’s oldest major championship has increased by £900,000 to £6.3m, with the champion receiving £1,150,000. That is £175,000 more than Rory McIlroy won at Hoylake last year.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: “The Open is one of the world’s pre-eminent sporting events.

“The Championship represents the pinnacle for the world’s greatest golfers and this increase is appropriate for an event with the Open’s global appeal.”

Jordan Spieth won $1.8million (£1.14m) for his US Open triumph on Sunday.