On the heels of a historic $10 million purse at the U.S. Women’s Open, the KPMG Women’s PGA announced on Tuesday that its purse would double to $9 million. This year’s event will be contested June 23-26 at Congressional Country Club’s newly restored Blue Course, marking the first women’s professional event ever held at the venue.
Since the PGA of America and KPMG came together to help transform what was once the LPGA Championship, the purse has increased a staggering 300 percent from $2.25 million in 2014.
“Through the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, we are accelerating the advancement, development and empowerment of women both on and off the golf course,” said Paul Knopp, KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO. in a statement.
“The significantly increased purse size – along with top courses in major markets, network TV coverage, and advanced data and analytics capabilities provided via KPMG Performance Insights – are tangible examples of our commitment to elevate the world-class athletes on the LPGA Tour.”
Since Inbee Park claimed the first KPMG Women’s PGA at Westchester Country Club in 2015, the championship has been held at a number of historic venues that have mostly, until recently, hosted men’s events, including Atlanta Athletic Club (2021), Aronimink Golf Club (2020), Hazeltine National Golf Club (2019), Kemper Lakes Golf Club (2018), Olympia Fields Country Club (2017) and Sahalee Country Club (2016).
Upcoming venues include Baltusrol Golf Club (2023) and a return to Congressional in 2027.
“This is a very big day for the LPGA,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA Commissioner in a statement, “for women’s golf and for women’s sports and we look forward to working with KPMG and the PGA of America to continue to use our platform to empower young women and inspire positive change in the world.”
This year’s field includes 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA champ Nelly Korda, who lost in a playoff last week to Jennifer Kupcho, winner of the 2022 Chevron Championship, as well as U.S. Women’s Open winner Minjee Lee and World No. Jin Young Ko.
There are plans in place for the U.S. Women’s Open purse to increase the purse to $12 million over the next five years. Last summer, the AIG Women’s British Open set a new record for women’s golf with a $5.8 million prize fund. This year, when the event moves to Muirfield for the first time, players will compete for $6.8 million.
The winner of the CME Group Tour Championship in 2022 will earn the largest check in women’s golf: $2 million.
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