Is the FM Global Championship Hike a Silver Feather For Women’s Golf in front of LIV Golf and PGA Tour’s Mighty Money Power?

Although golf is a very progressive sport, with women taking charge of the game just as much as men, there are still many deflections in the men’s and women’s sides of the sport. Popularity, coverage, tournament sites, and most importantly, prize money, are a few of the differences that exist between the tours. Even during this year’s Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, the difference in facilities between the two tournaments screamed volumes. In the past 2 years, the men’s side of the sport has changed a lot in terms of the quality of the event, and especially in the prize money aspect!

However, there have been a few alterations in the women’s golf tournaments as well, and there are a few developments coming in the future as well, such as the LPGA Tour returning to Boston after almost three decades with prize money that could give other LPGA Tour events a run for their money. But the hiked purse of $3.5 million brings some other questions along with it as well. One of the most important ones is: Is the Boston prize money just a tiny sliver of hope for women’s golf in front of LIV Golf’s prize money and the PGA Tour’s prize money?

Is TPC Boston’s $3.5 million a beacon of hope for the LPGA Tour?

The introduction of LIV Golf was technically like the injection of a lot of money into the sport, especially in the prize money aspect. The Saudi-funded league offers $20 million–$25 million purses in each of its events, with the winner taking up to $4 million home. Before the introduction of the breakaway league, the purses of the PGA Tour events were not significantly high.

Probably after getting inspired by LIV Golf’s hefty checks, the PGA Tour also introduced the concept of designated events, which were all about the increased winning purse. Though LIV Golf may have inspired the PGA Tour to increase its prize money, up until now, a significant change in LPGA Tour prize money has been spectated.

Just a couple of days ago, the LPGA Tour and FM Global announced that they were returning to Boston with an event in 2024. What caught everyone’s eye about this event was the hefty prize money that was announced. It was informed that the event will have $3.5 million worth of winning purse, which is the highest purse of the LPGA Tour’s regular events so far. The event will be called the 2024 FM Global Championship and will be held at Norton, Massachusetts Club from August 29 to September 1. It will be a proper 72-hole event with 144 players on the field.

After seeing the hike in prize money for LIV Golf events and PGA Tour events, it is now about time that LPGA Tour’s events also brought forward a similar change. But there is a huge difference between $3.5 million and $20 million, and there is still a long road ahead of LPGA Tour and women’s golf in general to reach prize money that will be anywhere close to that of a men’s golf tournament.

If one paid attention, one would realize that the entire purse of the TPC Boston event is equal to or even less than the winner’s payout for many of the men’s golf tournaments, and this reflects the great deviation that exists between the two sides of golf. In times like these, one could think that the TPC Boston prize money is just like a sliver of hope for women’s golf in the times to come, as it reflects that women’s golf is on the path to popularity, equality, and enthusiasm that male golf has!

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The entire golf fraternity, especially the women of the sport, is gleaming with excitement as they will return to Boston after nearly three decades. But what made the LPGA Tour return to Boston?

Why did the LPGA Tour return to Boston after almost  30 years?

The last time that the LPGA Tour had its event in Boston was in 1997, but the LPGA Commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, is very excited to bring back the tour to one of the most rapidly growing cities for women’s sports. She spoke about upcoming sports events such as the National Women’s Soccer League and the Professional Women’s Hockey League team coming to Boston, setting the momentum for other sports to come to the city!

She remarked that Boston is “one of America’s great sports regions” and is very much looking forward to empowering, inspiring, and advancing young girls and women both on and off the course, along with their newest partner, FM Global. The year 2024 will mark the first of five years of LPGA and FM Global’s partnership.

What are your thoughts on the TPC Boston event and the prize money that it comes with? Do you agree with being a sliver of hope for female golfers? Let us know in the comments below!

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