The U.S. Women’s Open just set a new benchmark for women’s golf.
With the addition of the championship’s first presenting sponsor in ProMedica, the purse has been elevated to $10 million for 2022, nearly doubling last year’s purse of $5.5 million. There are plans to increase the purse to $12 million over the next five years.
The winner of the 2022 USWO will receive $1.8 million. As USGA CEO Mike Whan points out, only three players on the LPGA earned more than that all season in 2021.
“The USGA prides itself on conducting championships that not only provide an incredible stage for the athletes, but also give younger players something to dream about,” said Whan, CEO in a release. “For more than 75 years, the U.S. Women’s Open has been the one that every little girl, in every country around the world, has dreamed of winning. This partnership with ProMedica allows us to substantially grow the championship in every way, from its purpose, to its purse, to the places that host the event. While I’m incredibly proud of what we are announcing today, I know this is just the beginning, as together with ProMedica, we’ll push to change the game and what it means to young women worldwide in order to reach new heights every year.”
LFG! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/8ELXxjEP2B
— Nelly Korda (@NellyKorda) January 7, 2022
The standards in women’s golf keep rising as big tournaments across the board invest more in the LPGA. 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.
The addition of a presenting sponsor enabled the USGA to take this next important step for America’s biggest event. ProMedica, a mission-based, not-for-profit integrated health and well-being organization that serves communities in 28 states will use the platform of the U.S. Women’s Open to generate charitable dollars for its ProMedica Impact Fund, which is now the official charity of the championship.
The excitement doesn’t end with the purse, however, as where they’re headed is just as impactful. With venues like Pebble Beach, Merion and Oakmont already announced as future sites, five more were added to an already impressive list:
- Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California (2026)
- Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio (2027)
- Pinehurst No. 2 in Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina (2029)
- Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota (2030)
- Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (2031 and 2042)
The 2026 USWO will be a part of Riviera’s centennial anniversary.
“We are thrilled and honored to be selected by the USGA to host this prestigious event featuring the greatest women golfers in the world,” said Megan Watanabe, President of the Riviera Country Club. “We will be celebrating our 100th anniversary and having the opportunity to work with the USGA to showcase a spectacular championship will certainly add to the special year we are planning to have.”
The 2022 U.S. Women’s Open returns to Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club June 2-5. In 2023, the championship will be contested for the first time at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
This will also be the first time the USWO be staged at Riviera, where Ben Hogan won the first of his four U.S. Open Championships in 1948. Inverness has hosted eight USGA championships as well as the 2021 Solheim Cup and will also be hosting its first Women’s Open along with Oakland Hills.
This will be the second USWO contested at Pinehurst No. 2. Michelle Wie won the first in 2014 when the men’s and women’s championships were first held back-to-back. That will happen again in 2029.
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