LPGA Tour Giddies Up for Massive $120M Prize Pool; Commissioner Reveals the Golden ‘Mission’ to Empowerment

Nelly Korda will have an extra $750,000 motivation when she tees up at Wilshire Country Club next month. Keeping with the trend of elevated purses in the LPGA Tour, the JM Eagle Championship also announced a bump this year. Notably, the plastic pipe manufacturer just doubled the purse size last year. 

However, the Taiwan-born CEO felt that wasn’t enough and wanted to lead by example. But not just millions in money, the title sponsor will also offer additional perks to LPGA Tour pros teeing up in Los Angeles as well.

A 25% increase for JM Eagle Championship 

JM Eagle championship announced that the purse will increase to $3.75M from the $3M on offer last year. That’s also the highest sum on offer outside the Majors and the CME Group Tour Championship. In addition, the title sponsor, and the presenting sponsor Plastpro will also provide lodging and complimentary shuttle service to Wilshire Country Club.

It’s only the second year of JM Eagle sponsoring the event. When the pipe-manufacturing giant took over the title sponsorship in 2022, the purse size was set at $1.5M. Only last year, they doubled it to $3M. But Wang told Golfweek, that “these ladies deserve more.” For Wang, whose love for professional golf started as a twenty-something young gun in Taiwan, this is more about giving back to the community rather than expecting a high ROI. 

Walter and Shirley Wang said in the official statement that they wanted to shine “an increased spotlight on women’s sports,” and promote “a more equitable landscape for female golfers, one tournament at a time.” The LPGA Tour Commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan said, “In our ongoing pursuit to empower, inspire, and advance opportunities for girls, on and off the golf course, we are immensely grateful for Walter and Shirley Young’s unwavering support and dedication to our shared mission.” 

There are 10 Non-major and Tour Championship events with a purse size of $3M or more this year. Only last year, the number was just four.

Part of a larger trend in the LPGA Tour

This year, four tournaments have elevated their purse size to $3M, the longest jump coming at the LOTTE Championship (from $2M to $3M). Including the CME Group Tour Championship, 10 events have increased this year’s purse size. The total prize pool of $120M is the highest in the Tour’s history and a massive 70% jump from 2021.

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The CME Group Tour Championship will have the largest purse at $11M. A record $4M is reserved for the winner, the same as the Signature events in the PGA Tour and what LIV Golf offers to its champion at every event. LPGA Tour noted that the Majors too has witnessed a consistent year-to-year bump totaling around 78% compared to 2021. 

The Top four of the Rolex World Rankings, Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Celine Boutier, and Ruoning Yin will tee up at Wilshire Country Club on April 25. Defending champion Hannah Green is also set to return, as are past champions, Nasa Hataoka (2022), Minjee Lee (2019), and Moriya Jutanugarn (2018). 

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