Total in-season prize money on the LPGA Tour now stands at $123.25 million, an increase of nearly 80% in five years.
“This is bringing together the best players in the world to play for something that really matters,” LPGA Tour Commissioner Molly Marcoux-Saman said Tuesday at a press conference at Carleton Woods Club in The Woodlands, Tex. That's what's most important, first and foremost.” , Chevron's championship site. “But I think they're playing for money commensurate with world-class talent. I always say that's really important. This is how Chevron views athletes and the value of the LPGA. I think it's symbolic of how the world views our athletic talent, and obviously it's important to play for more money when you're the best in the world. , it’s realistic.”
The Chevron Championship price increase comes a little more than two months after the United States Golf Association announced that the total purse for this year's U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club would increase to $12 million. I went to Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first time.
The winner of this week's Chevron will receive $1.2 million, which was awarded last year to world No. 2 Lilia Vu, who birdied the first hole of the playoff to outscore fellow American Angel Ying. This is an increase from the $780,000 check amount.
Players who missed out on spots at the Chevron Championship also received raises to cover their expenses that week. Players outside the cut line will be awarded $10,000, the most on the LPGA Tour, double what they received at last year's Chevron Championship. This is the same amount received by male players who did not qualify for the 2023 U.S. Open.
“We are truly honored to announce increased prize money and support for the Tour, as well as an extension to our current agreement,” said Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, who said the company will continue to serve as title sponsor. We plan to maintain it. 2029. “We are excited about everything about this event. Molly and I spent all morning meeting with so many people from the sports world, the golf world, and the business world to promote the growth of the LPGA and help people become so excited. We talked about what more we can do to take advantage of this great moment of focus on women's sports.
In addition to Vu, who is aiming for his second straight Chevron title, the most intriguing storyline heading into this week is world number one Nelly Korda, who is aiming for her fifth straight title. She becomes the second American player to win five straight starts, following Nancy Lopez in 1978. The only player to win five in a row was Sweden's Annika Sorenstam in 2004 and 2005.
Last year's Chevron Championship was originally held in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and went through several iterations, including Nabisco Dinah Shore, Craft Nabisco Championship, and ANA Inspiration, before moving to a Jack Nicklaus-designed layout outside Houston. did. .
The course has undergone renovations since last year's tournament, when Vu and Ying finished 72 holes with a 10-under 278. Players said getting a feel for the speed and receptivity of the updated greens is a top priority.
“The funny thing is, if you went to the venue without knowing exactly what they did, you'd probably think, 'Well, it doesn't really look like much has changed,'” said the U.S. Solheim Cup captain and 2011 said Stacey Lewis, winner of this year's event. “It's a very subtle thing. Here at No. 18, the wall of water is closer to the edge, and the bank is a few yards from the edge of the green. I think it's probably half the size it was before. So the effect of water is even bigger. We introduced bunkering on off-tee shots to make the tee shot a little more difficult. The biggest challenge this year is the hardness, but it's just the greenery that everyone has adapted to. I would have to.”
