There was major news in women’s golf this past week as it was announced on Friday, that the United States Women’s Open total purse is going to increase from $4.5 million to $10 million starting in 2022 according to Wajih AlBaroudi of CBS Sports. There are also plans to increase the purse to $12 million by 2026.
A major reason for the increase in prize money is because the United States Golf Association has teamed up with the non-profit health organization ProMedica, which is based out of Toledo, Ohio. It is interesting that this is one of the biggest moves United States Golf Association Chief Executive Officer Mike Whan has made since leaving the LPGA Tour as their commissioner in February of 2021. However it should be noted that the purse for the U.S. Open in men’s golf is still more at $12.5 million.
The increase in prize money for the U.S. Women’s Open should also mean the highest paid women’s golfer should make more in 2022 than last year. In 2021, Jin-Young Ko of South Korea made the most on the LPGA Tour, as she earned $3,502, 161. In 2022, the winner of the U.S. Women’s Open is set to earn $1.8 million. This means the winner of this one major in women’s golf is set to earn more than one half from one tournament than the total amount Ko made in 2021.
The 2022 LPGA Tour season will begin on January 20 from Lake Buena Vista, Florida with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. The Sentry Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour took place this past weekend in Maui with Australia’s Cameron Smith victorious.
