By Hannah Blackwell
The world’s top female golfers will compete for a record £103million ($131m) next season, Tour officials have announced – including a tournament in Wales.
The total prize fund for the LPGA tour’s 75th season represents an increase of 13 million dollars (£10.2million) from 2024.
Wales is set to stage its biggest ever women’s sporting event when Royal Porthcawl hosts the Women’s Open in 2025.
The championship, featuring the best players in the world, will be held from 30 July to 3 August.
The LPGA Tour Championship purse has grown by over 600% in just 13 years. pic.twitter.com/0wWyZoppiX
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) November 20, 2024
Royal Porthcawl is no stranger to hosting prestigious events.
It has held the Amateur Championship on six occasions, the Walker Cup, featuring a young Tiger Woods, the Curtis Cup and on three occasions the Senior Open.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “The famous Welsh links has a cherished history of hosting prestigious championships and the players will enjoy the challenge of competing for the AIG Women’s Open at another outstanding venue.
“It will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales and we hope to attract many Welsh sports fans, and those from further afield, to come and enjoy a true celebration of golf.”
The Welsh Wonder @Royal_Porthcawl pic.twitter.com/N75gIUVUuB
— Ralph Wardlaw (@RalphWardlaw) August 8, 2024
LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said: “The 2024 season was another year of historic growth for the LPGA Tour and, with this 2025 schedule, we will continue to improve on that growth.
“This schedule is highlighted by two exciting new events, a new multi-year title for the longest-running non-major tournament on the LPGA Tour, even higher purse sizes, increased benefits that will enhance the athlete experience, improved geographical flow and a longer off-season that will give our athletes a well-deserved rest after their tremendous work in 2024.”
The season-ending Tour Championship, which offers a record £3.1million first prize, will continue to be sponsored by the CME Group until 2027.
The first women’s major of the season – The Chevron Championship – will be held from April 24-27 at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.
The year’s other four majors will be contested over a span of nine weeks beginning with the May 29-June 1 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Erin Wisconsin featuring a $12 million purse that is the richest of the five blue-riband events.
Field Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas will host the June 19-22 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship before the July 10-13 Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France and July 31-Aug. 3 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.
The season-ending CME Group Tour Championship next November in Naples, Florida, will feature an $11 million purse, including a $4 million winner’s cheque the LPGA said is the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.