Women’s Open purse increases to $10 million
Long considered the biggest event in women’s golf, the U.S. Women’s Open now has prize money and future sites to match.
The U.S. Golf Association announced Friday the purse will nearly double this year to $10 million, by far the richest in women’s golf and challenging top prizes in women’s sports.
The purse was $5.5 million when Yuka Saso won at Olympic Club last year.
Helping to make it possible was the USGA bringing on a presenting sponsor — Ohiobased PreMedica, a not-for-profit integrated health organization serving 28 states. The purse is planned to increase to $11 million and eventually $12 million over the next five years.
Along with a massive jump in money, the USGA is sending the women to some of the classic U.S. Open courses that for decades have hosted the men, including a return to Oakmont and Pinehurst No. 2, along with Riviera, Oakland Hills, Merion, Inverness and Interlachen.
The Women’s Open is June 2-5 at Pine Needles Lodge in North Carolina, and then it moves to Pebble Beach for the first time the following year. Pebble Beach was already on the schedule.
Two months earlier, the LPGA Tour set a 2022 schedule with 34 tournaments and higher purses. The U.S. Women’s Open increase pushes the total prize money for the year just over $90 million.
“The U.S. Women’s Open has not only cemented its place as one of the leading events on our global tour, but also as one of the most impactful women’s sports events in the world,” LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said.
The prize money for the men’s U.S. Open last year was $12.5 million. The purse for this year’s event hasn’t been announced.
⏩ Cameron Smith posted a 9under-par 64 to put him at 17under after two rounds of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii, three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm and Daniel Berger. Cal alum Collin Morikawa is nine stokes out of the lead after shooting a 3-under 70.