Once again, the prize purse for the US Women’s Open has been increased! In 2023, the tournament offered a total prize purse of $11 million. During that event, Allisen Corpuz secured her first major victory, earning $2 million. However, this year, the organizers have boosted the prize pool by $1 million, bringing the total purse for the tournament at Lancaster to $12 million.

This week’s purse is the highest on the LPGA Tour this season. With such a substantial purse, competition is intense at Lancaster. While established golfers like Nelly Korda (who missed the cut) and Charley Hull faced challenges, budding talents like Andrea Lee and amateurs emerged at the top. As all eyes are on the leaderboard, let’s delve into the breakdown of the US women’s open prize money.

The stakes at the 2024 US Women’s Open

What started as a competition between 156 players, was reduced to top 60 + ties on Friday evening. This weekend, a champion will be crowned from the remaining field. The winner will take home $2.4 million, while the runner-up will receive $1,296,000. Here’s the complete breakdown of the prize money:

The partnership announced in February between the USGA, the event organizer, and Ally Financial has contributed to the increase in prize money for the second major of the season. Additionally, USGA CEO Mike Whan elaborated on his ideas for developing the women’s game and said, “Partnering with Ally allows us to not only continue elevating the US Women’s Open but to also further our commitment to the future of the game via our US National Development Program.”

The second major of the season not only presents a substantial purse but also awards 650 points for the Race to the CME Globe. While the competition heats up, who should you keep an eye on this weekend?

Pros to watch out for this weekend

After Nelly Korda claimed $1.185 million at the Chevron Championship, expectations were high for the #1 golfer. However, after Korda’s challenging start, predicting her chances of securing her third major title became uncertain. On the second hole, the par-3 12th, she carded a 10—her worst score on any hole in a major.

As Korda faced challenges, and sadly missed the cut. The fellow golfer, Andrea Lee, who previously held the top spot in the US amateur ranking rose to the top. She is currently in 2nd place with a total of 138, 2-under par. Though the leaderboard is dynamic, comparing her performance from the Mizuho Americas Open this year, where she finished at T14, conditions are certainly looking more favorable for her. As the third round concludes, things may further shift in her favor.

While Lee attracts attention, Wichanee Meechai, the Thai golfer, currently leads the leaderboard. Despite facing challenges in 2024, including three missed cuts and only one Top-10 finish at the Cognizant Founders Cup in May, where she secured a T7, holding the top spot is currently her best position. If she maintains it, she could secure her first major title. The amateurs such as Asterisk Talley and Megan Elizabeth Schofill also did pretty well.

As the tournament progresses, the competition may intensify. Who do you believe will claim the $2.4 million prize this time? Share your thoughts in the comments below!