Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses with the trophy after winning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida, 2024. Photo: AFP
The LPGA Tour continues to grow financially with an increase in prize money for this week's first major of the year.
The purse for The Chevron Championship in Texas has increased to NZ$13.4 million, an increase of $8 million over the last three years.
Players who miss the cut at the event will receive $17,000 to help cover expenses, up from $8,500 last year.
The LPGA's total annual prize money now stands at $209 million, an increase of 78.6 percent in the last five years.
The five majors have seen a 97 percent increase over the last three years, awarding at least $77 million this year.
The richest event is the US Open which is worth $20 million.
The Chevron Championship, being held this week at The Club at Carlton Woods, will bring together 132 of the world's best golfers.
Women's World number one Nelly Korda, who has won her last four consecutive starts on the LPGA Tour, headlines the field, along with defending tournament champion and 2023 Player of the Year Lilia Vu, also of the USA.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who has 20 tournament titles and two majors under her belt, could secure her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame with a win at The Chevron Championship.
Ko won the Chevron Championship in 2016, when it was known as the ANA Inspiration and had a purse of $4.4 million.
Ko has recorded a win, a second and a fourth place in six LPGA Tour events so far this year.
The men's PGA Tour has a total prize purse of $686 million in 2024.
- Reuters/RNZ