KPMG saw the historic $12.5 million purse that the USGA staked earlier this month at the U.S. Women’s Open and has decided to raise it by a half million.
Momentum for women’s major championship prize money has been building over the last decade but Monday’s news of $13 million in prize money at Hazeltine National Golf Club for this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is certainly the biggest number — and headline — thus far.
The major tournament played for just $3.5 million as recently as 2017, hitting the $12 million mark last year. The 2026 purse makes it officially a 271% increase in prize money since 2015.
“We’re so proud to increase our investment and support the female athletes behind this sport,” said Tim Walsh, chair and CEO of KPMG U.S. “Yes, the purse is an incredible aspect of this championship but it is just one investment we’re making: This will be the most tech-forward event on the LPGA Tour ... ‘The Players Reel’ will enable players to look back over each shot and each hole and change up strategy using analytics and AI insights.”
“The momentum that we’re seeing as a whole — this wouldn’t happen if you didn’t believe in where it’s going,” added Terry Clark, the CEO of PGA of America.
There was no immediate breakdown given for how the purse will be paid out as of Monday but, for comparison, Nelly Korda walked away with a $2.5 million check from Riviera. She also won $1.5 million from the $9 million Chevron Championship purse in April.
LPGA Tour commissioner Craig Kessler spoke about the record-setting purse at Hazeltine on Golf Central.
He told Golf Channel’s Amy Rogers that the “energy is off the charts” at Hazeltine this week as the 156-player field gets ready to tee off from Chaska, Minnesota, on Thursday.
“We’re absolutely having a moment,” Kessler said, noting how proud he was of the top-ranked Korda for her recent media tour in New York City that included stops at the New York Stock Exchange and Times Square.
“It takes that kind of participation from our athletes to become stars and that’s when audiences begin to fall in love with those stars and tune in,” Kessler said. “We’re very grateful for Nelly and her peers for all they’re doing.”
A look at how the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship purse has grown over the years:
