The AIG Women’s British Open announced Wednesday that it has increased its total prize purse this year by $250,000, moving it up to a record $9.75 million.
The winner on Sunday at Royal Porthcawl will earn $1,462,500, the highest amount in the 49-year history of the Women’s British Open. The purse has increased each of the last five years. The R&A and AIG partnership began in 2019.
Last year’s Women’s British Open was historic at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Lydia Ko, on the heels of winning a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris which gave her the final points necessary to get into the LPGA Hall of Fame,
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This year proves to be another thrilling event for several reasons. First, it’s the last major of the year in all of golf. Secondly, Lottie Woad winning last week at the Scottish Open in her professional debut has put her squarely onto the list of favorites to contend this week in Wales. In fact, even Lydia Ko said on Tuesday that she was interested in watching Woad.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda hasn’t won this year. World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, suddenly has a chance to ascend to the top spot. Mao Saigo, Maja Stark, Minjee Lee and Grace Kim could all win a second major this season.
But, back to the money and record earnings. Here is how the Women’s British Open fund has grown over the past few years.
2025: $9.75 million 2024: $9.5 million 2023: 9 million 2022: $7.3 million 2021: $5.8 million 2020: $4.5 million 2019: $4.5 million 2018: $3.25 million
Here’s a look at the evolution of purses in the other four LPGA major championships over the past five years:
Chevron Championship: $8 million in 2025; $3.1 million in 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: $12 million in 2025; $4.5 million in 2021 U.S. Women’s Open: $12 million in 2025; $5.5 million in 2021 Amundi Evian Championship: $4 million in 2025; $4.5 million in 2021
Here’s the rundown of what each player will earn this week who makes the cut. Each player who misses the cut will receive $4,250.
WIN: $1,462,500
2: $962,424
3: $697,059
4: $538,313
5: $432,493
6: $353,120
7: $294,915
8: $257,879
9: $231,421
10: $210,253
11: $194,374
12: $181,145
13: $169,504
14: $158,925
15: $149,398
16: $140,933
17: $133,530
18: $127,178
19: $121,889
20: $117,651
21: $113,424
22: $109,186
23: $104,958
24: $100,721
25: $97,019
26: $93,318
27: $89,695
28: $85,904
29: $82,202
30: $79,027
31: $75,851
32: $72,675
33: $69,499
34: $66,324
35: $63,684
36: $61,034
37: $58,395
38: $55,745
39: $53,095
40: $50,981
41: $48,867
42: $46,754
43: $44,630
44: $42,516
45: $40,928
46: $39,340
47: $37,752
48: $36,164
49: $34,576
50: $32,989
51: $31,937
52: $30,875
53: $29,813
54: $28,761
55: $27,699
56: $26,637
57: $25,586
58: $24,523
59: $23,472
60: $22,410
61: $21,884
62: $21,348
63: $20,822
64: $20,296
65: $19,760
66: $19,234
67: $18,708
68: $18,172
69: $17,646
70: $17,120
71: $12,777
72: $12,482
73: $12,186
74: $11,891
75: $11,595
76: $11,300
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
