U.S. Women's Open Winner To Earn $1M Thanks To Historic Purse

The winner of the U.S. Women's Open, which begins tomorrow in Charleston, S.C., will earn $1M for the first time after the USGA announced the event's purse "has been upped by $500,000" to $5.5M, according to Pat Ralph of GOLF.com. That makes it the "largest purse in all of women’s golf." While the $1M winning prize is the most ever for this event, it is "not the highest in women’s golf" -- the CME Group Tour Championship will hand out a $1.5M check to this year's winner. The men’s U.S. Open also "saw its purse increase by $500,000" to $12.5M, making it the "largest purse of any of the four major tournaments" (GOLF.com, 5/28). Golfer Lexi Thompson called the move by the USGA "amazing" and said, "It strikes us as the women’s game is growing so much. I think it is very well-deserved, but I think overall golf is just growing as a sport." USGA Senior Managing Dir of Championships John Bodenhamer indicated that the governing body "felt the increased amounts would be meaningful and impactful and enhance the championship experience overall" (Charleston POST & COURIER, 5/29).

BIG NEWS FOR WOMEN'S GAME: In Palm Springs, Larry Bohannan notes the increased purse is "big news" in golf, as it shows the USGA is "happy to spend some money on the women's game." While the purse still is far below what is being offered at the men's U.S. Open next month at Pebble Beach, the move "might cause other organizations and sponsors to add more money to their purses" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 5/29). GOLFWEEK's Beth Ann Nichols noted the U.S. Women’s Open purse is 25% higher than the "next-closest women’s major." There "isn’t a player on the LPGA who wouldn’t like to see equal purses between the men’s and women’s championships one day, but most also understand that the [men's] U.S. Open is the only profitable event on the USGA’s championship schedule." Golfer Stacy Lewis "hopes the USGA’s bump in pay causes organizers of other women’s majors to step up" (GOLFWEEK.com, 5/28).

Download the LPGA MAJOR PURSES