After years of debate over the discrepancy between purses on the men’s and women’s professional golf tours, 2022 is promising to be much more lucrative on the women’s side.
The USGA announced on Friday that the first-place prize for the U.S. Women’s Open this year will climb to $1.8 million, up from $1 million in 2021. Also, the CME Group Tour Championship’s total purse will jump up by $2 million (to $7 million), and its $2 million first-place prize will become the largest in professional women’s golf history.
To put that in perspective, only 27 times in the history of the LPGA has a player amassed $2 million or more in a single season, let alone a standalone week.
Here’s a look at those who have made this sum for an entire year (heading into the 2022 campaign).
Karrie Webb (2006): $2,090,113
Karrie Webb kisses the trophy after winning the 2006 Evian Masters.
Biggest purses: Evian Masters ($450,000), 1; Michelob Ultra Open At Kingsmill, ($330,000), 1.
Annika Sorenstam (2003): $2,029,506
Annika Sorenstam kisses the trophy after winning the 2003 Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England.
Biggest purses: Weetabix Women’s British Open ($254,880), 1; McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by AIG ($240,000), 1.
Jeongeun Lee6 (2019): $2,052,103
Jeongeun Lee6 kisses the trophy after winning the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston. (Photo: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open ($1,000,000), 1; ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer ($161,223), 2.
Lydia Ko (2014): $2,089,033
Lydia Ko at the 2014 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
Biggest purses: CME Group Tour Championship ($500,000), 1; Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic ($270,000)
Annika Sorenstam (2001): $2,105,868
Annika Sorenstam poses with a golf ball marked “59” after she became the first women in LPGA history to shoot a 59. She did so on March 16, 2001 at the Moon Valley Country Club during the Standard Register Ping in Phoenix. Photo by Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Network
Biggest purses: Nabisco Championship ($225,000), 1; Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez ($180,000), 1; Bank of Montreal Canadian Women’s Open ($180,000), 1.
Inbee Park (2014): $2,226,641
Meena Lee sprays water on Inbee Park after Park defeated Brittany Lincicome on the first playoff hole to win the 2014 Wegmans LPGA Championship. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: Wegmans LPGA Championship ($337,500), 1; Fubon 2014 LPGA Taiwan Championship ($300,000)
Inbee Park (2012): $2,287,080
Inbee Park celebrates winning the 2012 Evian Masters. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale ($487,500), 1; CN Canadian Women’s Open ($300,000), 1.
Suzann Pettersen (2013): $2,296,106
Suzann Pettersen celebrates after winning the 2013 Evian Championship. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: The Evian Championship ($487,500), 1; Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship ($300,000), 1.
Sung Hyun Park (2017): $2,335,883
Sung Hyun Park poses with the trophy after the final round of the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA ($900,000), 1; Canadian Pacific Women’s Open ($337,500), 1.
Nelly Korda (2021): $2,382,198
Nelly Korda poses with the championship trophy after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. (Photo: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports)
Biggest purses: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship ($675,000), 1; Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give ($345,000), 1.
Inbee Park (2013): $2,456,619
Inbee Park celebrates winning the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open at Sebonack Golf Club.
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open ($585,000), 1; Wegmans LPGA Championship ($337,500), 1.
Lydia Ko (2016): $2,493,059
Lydia Ko forms a heart as she jumps into “Poppie’s Pond” after winning the 2016 ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Gregory Bull/Associated Press)
Biggest purses: ANA Inspiration, ($390,000), 1; KPMG Women’s PGA Championship ($321,675), 2.
Stacy Lewis (2014): $2,539,039
Stacy Lewis at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst.
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open ($432,000), 1; Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G ($300,000), 1.
Annika Sorenstam (2004): $2,544,707
Annika Sorenstam and caddie Terry Mcnamara at the 2004 LPGA Corning Classic.
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open ($335,000), 1; Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott ($262,500), 1.
Ariya Jutanugarn (2016): $2,550,947
Ariya Jutanugarn had five wins on the LPGA in a breakout 2016 season. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: Ricoh Women’s British Open ($412,047), 1; Canadian Pacific Women’s Open ($337,500), 1.
Annika Sorenstam (2005): $2,588,240
Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam wait for closing ceremonies after competition in the 2005 Tavistock Cup at Isleworth Country Club March 29. (Photo: A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Biggest purses: McDonald’s LPGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola ( $270,000), 1; Kraft Nabisco Championship ($270,000), 1.
Lorena Ochoa (2006): $2,592,872
Lorena Ochoa takes a selfie with a fan after winning the 2006 LPGA Takefuji Classic at the Las Vegas Country Club. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: Samsung World Championship ($218,750), 1; 6 HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship ($200,000), 1.
Inbee Park (2015): $2,630,011
Inbee Park poses with the trophy after winning the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship ($525,000), 1; Ricoh Women’s British Open ($464,817), 1.
Ariya Jutanugarn (2018): $2,743,949
Ariya Jutanugarn poses with the championship trophy after winning the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Shoal Creek. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open ($900,000), 1; Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open ($225,000), 1.
Sei Young Kim (2019): $2,753,099
Sei Young Kim poses with the CME Globe trophy and winner’s check after winning the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Biggest purses: CME Group Tour Championship ($1,500,000), 1; LPGA Mediheal Championship ($270,000), 1.
Lorena Ochoa (2008): $2,763,193
Lorena Ochoa celebrates with family and friends in “Poppie’s Pond” after winning the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: Ginn Open ($390,000), 1; Kraft Nabisco Championship ($300,000), 1; HSBC Women’s Champions ($300,000), 1.
Jin Young Ko (2019): $2,773,894
Jin Young Ko waves to the fans after winning 2019 ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club. (Photo: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports)
Biggest purses: The Evian Championship ($615,000), 1; ANA Inspiration ($450,000), 1.
Lydia Ko (2015): $2,800,802
Lydia Ko poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the 2015 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: The Evian Championship ($487,500), 1; Canadian Pacific Women’s Open ($337,500), 1.
Annika Sorenstam (2002): $2,863,904
Annika Sorenstam celebrates a birdie during the 2002 U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. (Photo: Associated Press)
Biggest purses: U.S. Women’s Open ($315,000), 1; Evian Masters ($315.000), 1.
Yani Tseng (2011): $2,921,713
Yani Tseng holds the trophy as pipers play after she won the 2011 Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf Club. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: RICOH Women’s British Open ($392,133), 1; Wegmans LPGA Championship ($375,000), 1.
Jin Young Ko (2021): $3,502,161
Jin Young Ko holds the Player of the Year trophy after winning the 2021 CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida. (Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press)
Biggest purses: CME Group Tour Championship ($1,500,000), 1; Cognizant Founders Cup ($450,000), 1.
Lorena Ochoa (2007): $4,364,994
Lorena Ochoa celebrates with her caddie Dave Brooker after winning the 2007 Women’s British Open on the Old Course at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo: Getty Images)
Biggest purses: ADT Championship ($1,000,000), 1; CN Canadian Women’s Open ($337,500), 1; Ricoh Women’s British Open ($320,512).
