It’s been a banner year for women’s golf — especially in terms of financial gains.
In November, the LPGA announced that the 2022 season’s 34 tournaments combined will offer $85.7 million in prize money — a new record for the oldest professional women’s sports organization in America. That number included purse increases in nine existing events, highlighted by the season-ending CME Championship’s $5 million increase to $7 million, with $2 million awarded to the champion.
And the money just keeps flowing.
At the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles earlier this month, players competed for an impressive $10 million purse — nearly double the payout awarded in 2021.
And this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — the third of five majors in the women’s game — is following suit.
The purse at Congressional Country Club has also been doubled since last year, rising from $4.5 to $9 million. The figure also represents a 300 percent surge since 2014 ($2.25M), which was the year before the PGA of America and KPMG began their collaboration.
The winner’s share on Sunday will also be doubled to $1.35 million.
While these purses are still less than what the men compete for at comparable majors, the increases represent a huge step forward in terms of pay equity. The purse sizes at the U.S. Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and CME Group Tour Championship match or exceed many of the regular-season events on the PGA Tour.
“Doubling the purse from $4.5 million to $9 million is another example of KPMG and the PGA of America’s dogged commitment to the LPGA and our athletes. We could not be more grateful for their steadfast leadership in growing the women’s game and providing our athletes and future athletes with opportunities commensurate with their world-class talent,”LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a press release. “This is a very big day for the LPGA, for women’s golf and for women’s sports and we look forward to working with KPMG and the PGA of America to continue to use our platform to empower young women and inspire positive change in the world.”
