The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $17,800,000, including four majors.
en.wikipedia.org Purse can also be a synonym to bursary (which has the same origin), i.e. a monetary prize in a competition.
en.wikipedia.org The purse for the tournament was $5,000, with $1,000 going to the winner, from 1938 to 1941, increased to $10,000/$2,000 in 1946, and increased again to $15,000/$3,000 in 1949.
en.wikipedia.org The season consisted of 24 official money events with purses totaling $$46,700,000, including five majors.
en.wikipedia.org As mentioned above, the wealth deposited in the common purse includes members incomes and salaries.
en.wikipedia.org