Kerching! The AIG Women’s Open prize fund is massive
The R&A have added another half a million dollars into the pot up for grabs at St Andrews this week
Whoever lifts the trophy at St Andrews on Sunday will not only win the AIG Women’s Open, they’ll receive the highest pay out in the competition’s 48-year history.
The victor will take home $1.425 million as The R&A announced the prize fund for the final women’s major of the year had been boosted by $500,000.
It’s now sitting at $9.5 million – a total the game’s governing says has tripled since their partnership with AIG began in 2019.
That compares to the $7.9 million up for grabs at The Chevron Championship this year and $8 million on offer at the Evian Championship.
There was a $12 million cash pool at the US Women’s Open and $10.4 million bounty at the Women’s PGA Championship.
But the rise in the AIG Women’s Open prize fund over the last seven tournaments has still been remarkable:
Growth in the AIG Women’s Open prize fund
2024: $9.5 million
2023: $9 million
2022: $7.3 million
2021: $5.8 million
2020: $4.5 million
2019: $4.5 million
2018: $3.25 million
Martin Slumbers, R&A chief executive, said: “With the outstanding backing we have received from AIG as our title sponsor we have been able to achieve a step change and take this Championship to new levels.
“We greatly appreciate AIG’s support and are proud that they share our goal to elevate the AIG Women’s Open still further and ensure it remains at the pinnacle of the women’s game.
“The increased prize fund and our enhancements to the staging and the spectator experience this year reflect our shared commitment to making the AIG Women’s Open a world class championship for players and fans alike.”
Picture courtesy of the R&A
Now have your say
What do you make of this AIG Women’s Open prize fund levels? Could they be improved even further? Let us know by leaving a comment on X.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
