U.S. Women’s Open Becomes the Richest Event in Women’s Golf—Again

The U.S. Women’s Open will pay out a $12.5 million purse this week, organizers announced Wednesday, setting a record for a single women’s golf tournament.

The previous high was $12 million, which the U.S. Women’s Open paid out in 2024 and 2025, as did the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last year.

“We’re proud to lead on that front as we lift up the women’s game,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said in a pre-tournament press conference.

This week’s champion at Riviera Country Club will earn a $2.5 million winner’s check, up from $2.4 million the past two years.

That’s the largest first-place prize among the five women’s golf major championships; Minjee Lee earned $1.8 million for winning the 2025 Women’s PGA Championship last year.

The U.S. Women’s Open purse is largely backed by the tournament’s presenting sponsor Ally, and this week’s increase continues this year’s trend of rising prize money among the five women’s golf major championships.

The Chevron Championship in April boosted its prize money to $9 million, up from $8 million in 2025; champion Nelly Korda won $1.35 million. 

Later that month, two other majors announced upcoming purse increases. 

The Amundi Evian Championship, which will be played next month in France, announced a $1.1 million purse increase for this year’s tournament to $9.1 million. The AIG Women’s Open, which begins July 30, announced a $250,000 purse increase to $10 million.

The Women’s PGA Championship will be played later this month, when it will announce its 2026 purse.

The LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship paid out $11 million in 2025, with winner Jeeno Thitikul earning $4 million—the largest single prize in women’s golf.

The U.S. Women’s Open begins Thursday morning, with coverage across NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Network, and USA throughout the four-day tournament.

How Much Will Men’s U.S. Open Pay?

The purse increase at the U.S. Women’s Open could be an indicator of the USGA’s plans for the prize money allotment for this month’s men’s U.S. Open.

Previously the most lucrative of the four men’s majors, the $21.5 million purse the U.S. Open paid out in 2024 and 2025 was surpassed in April by the Masters, which shelled out a record $22.5 million. 

Whan last month told Front Office Sports there is “not a race” between the U.S. Open and Masters to be the richest major.