• Loading stock data...
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

LPGA’s Richest Season Ever Set to Crown a Record-Breaker

The LPGA Tour’s richest season yet is set to conclude this week with someone finally breaking Lorena Ochoa’s 17-year-old record for prize money won in a single season.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The LPGA Tour’s richest season yet is set to conclude this week with someone finally breaking Lorena Ochoa’s 17-year-old record for prize money won in a single season.

Whoever wins this week’s CME Group Tour Championship will surpass the $4,364,994 that Ochoa earned in 2007 when she won eight tournaments, including the Women’s British Open. 

That’s because this week’s first-place prize is a record $4 million (double last year’s payout), and all 60 golfers in the field have already won enough money this season that the winner’s check would vault them over Ochoa. Linnea Strom’s $540,968 is the lowest prize money total coming in.

Ochoa’s record wasn’t closely contested until 2022, when Lydia Ko fell $591 short, winning $4,364,403 on tour that year. On Sunday, Nelly Korda added to her landmark year by becoming just the third golfer to win more than $4 million in one season, following her seventh victory of 2024 at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican (after a highly watched practice round with Caitlin Clark), which brought her total to $4,164,430.

Even if Korda doesn’t win this week, she can surpass Ochoa’s mark with a top-five finish, and could still end up with the single-season record, depending on who wins the tournament. Second place pays out $1 million, third $550,000, fourth $350,000, and fifth $260,000. Eight other golfers have already won more than $2 million this season, and 21 others over $1 million.

Overall, the LPGA Tour’s total prize money in 2024 amounts to a record $125.95 million, up from $101.4 million in 2023.

“It’s a really big topic,” No. 7–ranked Jeeno Thitikul said in an interview with Front Office Sports. Thitikul won this season’s Aon Risk Reward Challenge, which earned her a $1 million bonus, in addition to the $2.1 million she earned in tournament prize money. “It’s really nice for us to have [a lot of] support because we’re trying to make the tour bigger,” Thitikul said.

The purse for the Tour Championship, which tees off Thursday at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Fla., is $11 million (a $4 million increase from 2023), which is second only to the $12 million handed out at the U.S. Women’s Open this year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 26, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Ball Arena.

NBA Coaching Chaos: How CBA May Have Impacted Recent Firings

The league’s two-apron salary structure severely restricts roster construction.
Apr 8, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Scottie Scheffler hit on no. 7 during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Can Masters TV Ratings Rebound From Big Drop Last Year?

Viewership for the final round was down 20% in 2024.

Masters Standing Firm on No Guaranteed Invites for LIV Players

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley addressed golf’s divided state Wednesday.

Fore Rent: Augusta’s $20M Masters Short-Term Home Market

The Masters brings an influx of visitors to the city.

Featured Today

The pin flag on the second green flaps in the wind during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Inside The Masters: Traditions, Restrictions, and Gnomes

How the most exclusive major employs its own strict rules and operations.
Mar 16, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) reacts after scoring a basket agianst the Utah State Aggies during the second half at Golden 1 Center.
exclusive
April 6, 2025

‘It’s On Principle’: NBA Players On Filing for House Settlement Checks

The checks are relatively small. That’s not the point, players say.
Mar 29, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) before playing against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.
April 5, 2025

As College Basketball Teams Got Older, Duke Embraced the Fountain of Youth

How the Blue Devils went old-school in the transfer portal era.
Mar 1, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) and center Olivier Rioux (32) and guard Alijah Martin (15) and forward Thomas Haugh (10) huddle after the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
April 4, 2025

How Florida Built a Final Four Roster With ‘Under-Recruited’ Players

“We’ve never gotten a single player because we’re the highest bidder.”

How Much Do MLB Athletic Trainers Make?

MLB athletic trainers can earn up to six figures with experience.
April 9, 2025

Luka Dončić’s Dallas Homecoming Could Deliver NBA Ratings High

The Lakers and Mavericks played in Los Angeles in late February.
April 9, 2025

LA28 Flag Football Push Pits Goodell and Players Against NFL Owners

A final decision could be forthcoming on active NFL player participation.
Sponsored

League One Volleyball’s Defining Moment: A Championship Years in the Making

Volleyball has long thrived at the youth level—now it’s transforming professionally. The LOVB Finals mark a pivotal moment for the sport.
April 8, 2025

How LOVB Is Turning Youth Volleyball Into a Pro Powerhouse

The new professional women’s volleyball league was built at the youth level.
April 8, 2025

Jon Rahm: LIV Golf–PGA Tour Union ‘Not Happening Anytime Soon’

The 2023 Masters champion is not optimistic about a deal coming together.
April 8, 2025

NFL Gives Fans What They Want: More Throwback Uniform Games

The league approved an expansion of the usage of popular alternate uniforms.
Amalfi Jets
April 7, 2025

From Fairways to Runways: Masters Brings Influx of Private Planes

The first golf major of the year brings an enormous influx of luxury travel.