Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko React to LPGA’s Record-Breaking Announcement: ‘We’re Really Grateful for That’

The LPGA Tour is offering a $101.4 million total purse for its upcoming season! It is the first time in history that such a big amount is being allotted as purse money for women golfers. And two of the world’s top-ranking golfers, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, are nothing but happy because of it. 

“It’s amazing,” Korda said in a press meet after round 2 of the CME Group Tour Championship. “You know… women’s golf is really trending in a great direction.” 

Moreover, she added, “every year, we see a lot really… a lot of positives come from it.” A recently crowned world no. 1 golfer further explained that women’s golf has a lot to offer, and the players are delivering their best performance through the platforms they get. 

“The sponsors can see it, and they’re really backing us,” she added. “And we’re really grateful for that.” 

The LPGA Tour’s decision to increase the purse touched Lydia Ko deeply 

The new purse amount is a dream come true for many women golfers. Reports suggest that a decade ago, the Tour players used to get nearly half the purse the organization is offering now. Therefore, the change brought happiness to all the past, present, and future female pro-golfers. 

“It was super cool like when I first saw it,” Ko, who got to know about it beforehand as she is one of the Tour’s Player Directors, said. Ko explained that the Tour improved a lot as it increased its purse from 90-93 million to $100 million. 

“Just for it to keep improving, it just shows that like one, like how much our partners believe in us,” she added. “And two, also the level of on the LPGA, and that’s why people want to support us.” 

Read more: Inside 18-Time LPGA Tour Winner Lydia Ko’s Inspirational Weight Loss Journey After Suffering Body-Shaming Comments

Furthermore, the current world no. 3 told the media, “I think it’s great for not only us that are playing right now but for the future generation.” 

What was the highest prize money offering event on the LPGA Tour in the 2022 season? 

The CME Globe Tour Championship is the highest prize money offering tournament on the LPGA Tour. The competition is offering $2 million, 28.57 percent of the overall purse, for its winner. Notably, other LPGA events only pay out 15 percent of their purses to the champion. 

After playing two rounds, Lydia Ko leads the Tiburón Golf Club field with her impressive 13-under par. 

With an increased overall purse, female golfers have gotten the recognition they deserve. And Ko and Korda, two representatives of sport, consider it an opportunity to improve their game. 

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