Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have both had strange PGA Tour seasons
The 2026 PGA Tour season has proved an unusual one for both Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
Despite facing their individual challenges, the duo have collectively banked more than $10m in tour earnings this year.
McIlroy kicked off his campaign in spectacular fashion, claiming victory at Augusta National and successfully defending the green jacket he memorably secured in 2025, cementing his legacy as a grand slam champion.
However, since that triumphant April showing, the Holywood native has found consistency elusive, with only a T-7th placing at both the PGA Championship and Scottish Open suggesting he might challenge for another trophy.
Nevertheless, he enters Sunday’s final round of the BMW Championship in the last group, though trailing leader Wyndham Clark by five strokes, reports the Irish Mirror.
While the six-time major champion hasn’t been quite as active or successful in terms of tournament wins this season, his earnings remain substantial.
His Augusta triumph in April added $4.5m to his coffers, while a T-2nd finish at the Genesis just weeks prior brought in $1.8m.
All told, McIlroy has accumulated just over $8.5m from his PGA Tour performances in 2026, a figure that could rise considerably over the coming fortnight as he targets success at the BMW Championship and next week’s Tour Championship finale at East Lake.
For Lowry, the PGA Tour experience this year has been rather more turbulent. A promising opening saw him firmly in the mix at the Cognizant Classic, only to surrender a commanding position in the closing stages.
The County Offaly golfer began his final round at the Masters trailing McIlroy by just two shots, but struggled on the concluding day to finish tied for 30th.
Overall, it has been a campaign to forget for Lowry, who placed 62nd in the FedEx Cup season standings and consequently bowed out of the playoffs at the opening stage.
Despite these setbacks, Lowry still concludes his PGA Tour season having banked an impressive $2.45m.
He will be back in action at the Irish Open next month, eager to end the year on a positive note.
Rory McIlroy 2026 prize money
Shane Lowry 2026 prize money
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