Record prize money for British Open

London - This year's British Open winner will collect a record 1.15 million pounds in prize money, organisers said on Wednesday.

The purse is 175 000 pounds up on last year's tournament, won by Rory McIlroy, with the overall prize fund rising to 6.3 million pounds, up 900 000 on 2014.

The runner-up will pocket 653 000 pounds with the third-placed finisher taking home 420,000 pounds.

Announcing the bumper pot, Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A), 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."

This year's championship, the 144th, will be played at St Andrews in Scotland from July 16-19.