The 2026 Internet Invitational Prize Pool Has Been Revealed
Dave Portnoy has announced that the 2026 Internet Invitational will carry a prize pool of $4 million, four times the $1 million on offer at last year's inaugural event.
That 2025 edition tournament, which took place at Big Cedar Lodge, featured 48 YouTube golfers competing across six episodes and totalling over 16 hours of content, generating tens of millions of views and drawing an audience that extended well beyond the existing YouTube golf fanbase.
Following the conclusion of year one, Portnoy had publicly floated the idea of a $10 million purse for the second edition, telling The Unnamed Show: "I'd like to do a $10 million pool next year. Year 2 you really prove it, and then you've got something." Never one to put a cap on his dreams, is he? But while the $4 million figure lands well short of that, it nonetheless represents a substantial increase.
How does it compare to professional golf?
A $4 million pool is not insignificant even when held up against the professional game. Most non-signature PGA Tour events carry purses in the $8-10 million range at the top end, though many fall below that. For reference, last year's PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler took home approximately $3.42 million — meaning the entire Internet Invitational pool is roughly equivalent to a single winner's cheque at one of golf's majors.
At the lower end of the professional spectrum, Korn Ferry Tour events often carry purses of $1 million or less, putting the Internet Invitational's $4 million in a different bracket entirely.
What it means for the players
The format of the 2026 event has not yet been fully confirmed, but if the team draft structure from year one is retained the numbers become significant for participants. In 2025, each member of the winning three-person team took home roughly $330,000. A proportional split on a $4 million pool would see winning team members pocketing well over $1 million each. While the likes of Bobby Berger might be rolling in it from their YouTube-generated fame, there will be plenty of competitors for whom that figure dwarfs what they earn from the platform itself.
Who's playing?
The full roster for the 2026 edition has not yet been officially announced, though names have begun to surface in the weeks since the prize pool reveal. Given the increased prize money and the profile the first event generated, the field is expected to attract significant interest — both from returning participants and new faces looking to get involved. Check back at ytgolftalk.com for up-to-date info as names of invitees come to light.
