A Decade of PDGA Tournament Earnings 2015 to 2025
Disc golf has grown rapidly over the past decade, and with that growth comes a common question: how much money do professional disc golfers actually make. Because sponsorship contracts are often private, we frequently can only speculate at a player’s total income. Let’s look instead at the trends for the past decade of tournament payouts.
By looking at PDGA reported tournament winnings, we can get a better feel for the finances of the sport. While prize money represents only part of a pro players total income, it provides a clear and verifiable look at how earnings have changed over the past ten years.
Why Tournament Earnings Matter
Unlike sponsorships, signature disc royalties, or media revenue, tournament winnings are publicly documented, easy to compare year to year, a consistent indicator of performance, and a direct reflection of the sports financial growth. They do not tell the full story, but they offer the most accurate data available.
The Growth of Prize Money 2015 to 2025
Tournament payouts have increased dramatically. In 2024, the top ten players earned a combined $1,082,112, a 14.8 percent increase from the previous year. The highest single season earnings ever recorded include Gannon Buhr in 2024 with $211,337 and Kristin Tattar in 2023 with $116,247. These totals would have been unimaginable a couple decades ago.
Top Earners of the Past Decade
MPO Mens Professional Open
Gannon Buhr
2024: $211,337, the highest single season total ever recorded
2025: $164,751, still among the highest seasons in history
Buhrs rapid rise has pushed him into all time earnings contention.
Ricky Wysocki
Career earnings as of 2025: $895,164.76, the highest in PDGA history.
Paul McBeth
Career earnings as of 2025: $867,097.09.
McBeth previously held the all time earnings lead, surpassing Ken Climo when he reached $432,908.09 earlier in his career.
FPO Womens Professional Open
Kristin Tattar
2023: $116,247, the highest single season total in FPO history.
Missy Gannon
2024: $104,150, one of the largest FPO seasons ever recorded.
Paige Pierce
Career earnings as of 2025: $465,372.64.
Pierce remains the all time FPO earnings leader.
Year by Year Snapshot
| Year | Player | Division | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gannon Buhr | MPO | $164,751 |
| 2024 | Gannon Buhr | MPO | $211,337 |
| 2024 | Missy Gannon | FPO | $104,150 |
| 2023 | Kristin Tattar | FPO | $116,247 |
| 2023 | Isaac Robinson | MPO | $108,503 |
| 2023 | Calvin Heimburg | MPO | $107,025 |
| 2022 | Ricky Wysocki | MPO | $105,776 |
These numbers show a clear trend: six figure seasons are becoming increasingly common, especially since 2022.
Top 20 Winners For the Last Decade
It’s impressive to see how payouts have changed over the past few years. They tripled from 2015 to 2023, with huge spike coming during the pandemic. That brought unprecedented growth to the sport, giving manufacturers the green light for some big contracts, and better payouts to players.
What Tournament Earnings Do Not Show
Tournament winnings do not include sponsorship contracts, signature disc royalties, YouTube and media revenue, clinics and coaching, or team bonuses and incentives. For many top pros, these additional income streams often exceed their prize money.
How Disc Golf Compares to Other Niche Sports
Disc golfs top earners now rival or exceed athletes in comparable emerging sports such as pickleball or competitive bowling. Increased media coverage and fan engagement continue to push payouts higher.
The Future of Pro Disc Golf Earnings
Based on the past decade, prize money is rising nearly every year, more players are reaching six figure seasons, the gap between MPO and FPO earnings is narrowing, and career earnings leaders are approaching the one million dollar milestone. Disc golf is still young, and its financial ceiling is far from reached.
Conclusion
Tournament winnings offer the clearest and most reliable look at how much professional disc golfers make. The data shows a sport on the rise, with growing opportunities for players to earn a living at the highest level. Whether you are a fan, a player, or someone dreaming of going pro, the last decade makes one thing clear: the financial future of disc golf is brighter than ever.
Conclusion on Earnings of Professional Disc Golfers
Does a top tier professional disc golfer make a decent living? Absolutely. However, their earnings are not as substantial as those in other professional sports. As disc golf continues to grow in popularity, an increasing number of companies are likely to invest in sponsorship deals and tournament prizes, which will enhance the financial prospects for professional disc golfers.
This article was updated July 8, 2025
