What Is the Biggest Paying Event on LPGA? How Can Next Season Put a Bigger Smile on the Women Golfers Than 2023?

Women’s golf has evolved a lot since its inception in the 1800s. With progress, the investment and interest in women’s golf is increasing year by year. Although it is nowhere near the male sport, it is better than ever before.

With 35 events and $101.4 million up for grabs in the 2023 season, the LPGA Tour has seen an increase from last year’s $84 million. The Majors take the largest part of the million-dollar prize money. But which was the highest-paying event in the 2023 LPGA season?

Biggest tournament on the LPGA circuit

The LPGA 2023 season’s inaugural event was the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, held at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Florida. Brooke Henderson won the tournament and took home $225,000, while the overall purse was $1.5 million. Most events on the tour fall in the $1-3 million categories.

Comparably, the prize purse is certainly less than the male tours like the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Coming to the question, the highest-paying non-Major event is the CME Group Tour Championship, followed by The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. The former has $7 million while the latter has $3.25 million prize money.

When it comes to the five majors in women’s golf, the Women’s U.S. Open tops the list as the biggest and most expensive event of all. The Open had a prize pool of $11 million, an increase of $1 million from 2022. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship trails behind with $10 million as the prize purse.

Now comes the best part. Beginning 2024, the CME Group Tour Championship will raise the prize money. The LPGA recently announced the $4 million increase, with an additional guaranteed purse for each golfer next year. The 2024 season will surely boost the spirits of the golfers.

2024 LPGA season – way better

The LPGA Tour, in partnership with the CME Group, has revealed an extension for the next two years. Additionally, the prize money has been increased to $11 million from seven. And the winner’s cut will be $4 million while the runners-up will get $1 million.

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Moreover, the Top 60 and tied on the Race to CME Globe, and other participants of the championship will certainly have $55,000 in their pocket. After the increase in prizes next year, the CME Group Championship and the Women’s U.S. Open will have the same prize pool.

In the history of LPGA, the CME Group Tour Championship will, for the first time, come in the same lane as the Majors. Women’s golf is not yet on the same page as male golf. However, the slow and steady progress will certainly benefit the women’s circuit.

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