Never did it matter if, only how much. The R&A was ready to follow suit for this week’s AIG Women’s British Open after the organisations that oversee the other four women’s major championships each upped the prize money awards for their competitions to record levels in 2022. And on Wednesday, chief executive Martin Slumbers reported that the total had increased from the previously disclosed $6.8 million to $7.3 million.
For the first time ever, the champion—South African Ashleigh Buhai, who defeated In Gee Chun in a four-hole playoff—is being awarded seven figures in prize money. The winner of the Muirfield race on Sunday will take home a check for $1.095 million.
Slumbers highlighted that the increase represented a 26 percent rise over the $5.8 million total budget from the previous year. Additionally, it is 125 percent higher than the championship’s previous winnings, which were $3.25 million at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, four years ago.
In contrast, this year’s Chevron Championship saw an increase in overall prize money from $3 million to $5 million, with winner Jennifer Kupcho taking home a record $750,000. The USGA added ProMedica as a presenting sponsor to the U.S. Women’s Open, increasing the prize money from $4.5 million to $10 million, with victor Minjee Lee collecting $1.8 million. Following suit, the prize pool for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship increased from $4.5 million to $9 million, with In Gee Chun earning $1.35 million. The Amundi Evian Championship followed suit, with Brooke Henderson earning $1 million for winning and the overall reward increasing from $4.5 million to $6.5 million.
Here is a breakdown of the prize money awarded to each golfer at Muirfield this week who makes the cut. After the event, we’ll post an update with precise payments and names of participants.
A victory for Ashleigh Buhai, -10, $1,095,000
P-2: $673,743 in Gee Chun, -10
Hinako Shibuno, position -9, $488,285
T-4: $309,546; Leona Maguire; seven.
T-4: $309,546 for Minjee Lee, -7.
Madelene Sagstrom, T-4; -7; $309,546
Celine Boutier, a T-7, is worth $160,700.
Lydia Ko, T-7, -5, $160,700
Nasa Hataoka, -5, at T-7, for $160,700
Atthaya Thitikul, T-7, -5, $160,700
Brooke M. Henderson, position 7; salary: $160,700
Stephanie Kyriacou, T-7 -5, $160,700
A Lim Kim, T-13, -4, $115,890
Miyu Yamashita, T-13, -4, $115,890
Kotone Hori, T-15, -3, $99,867
Alison Lee, T-15, -3, $99,867
Hyo Joo Kim, T-15, -3, $99,867
Sei Young Kim, minus-2, $90,006
Linn Grant, -1, $83,350; T-19
Louise Duncan, -1, $83,350; T-19
T-19: -1, $83,350, Jodi Ewart Shadoff
Georgia Hall, E, T-22, $70.407
T-22: E, $70,407 Emily Kristine Pedersen
Jeongeun Lee6, E, $70,00407 on T-22
Eun-Hee Ji, E, $70,00407 T-22
Charley Hull, E, T-22, $70.407
Inbee Park, E, T-22, $70.407
T-28: +1, $55,306; Ariya Jutanugarn
T-28: Janet Xiyu Lin, +1, $55,306
Megan Khang, +1, $55,306 T-28
Rose Zhang, +1, Amateur, T-28
Andrea Lee, +1, $55,306; T-28
Sung Hyun Park, +1, $55,306; T-28
Hye-Jin Choi, +1, $55,306 T-28
So Yeon Ryu, +2, $46,554 on T-35
Hannah Green, +2, $46,554 T-35
Jennifer Kupcho, +3, $41,007 (T-37);
Jessica Korda, +3, $41,007 on T-37
Cheyenne Knight, +3, $41,007 at T-37
Mel Reid, +3, $41,007 on T-37
Nelly Korda, +4, $32,475 at T-41
T-41: +4, $32,475 Angela Stanford
Leonie Harm, +4, $32,475 T-41
Lilia Vu, +4, $32,475 on T-41
Narin An, +4, $32,475 T-41
Marina Alex, +4, $32,475 T-41
Maja Stark, +4, $32,475 on T-41
Bronte Law, +5, $26,399 on T-48
Sarah Schmelzel, +5, $26,399; T-48
Whitney Hillier, +5, $26,399 at T-48
Mo Martin, +6, $23,442 T-51
Jennifer Chang, +6, $23,442; T-51
Ally Ewing, +6, $23,442 on T-51
Esther Henseleit, +7, $20,852 on T-54
Lizette Salas, +7, $20,852 on T-54
Albane Valenzuela, +7, $20,852 on T-54
T-54: +7, $20,852 Brittany Altomare
T-58: $17,600 In Kyung Kim, +8
Lydia Hall, +8, $17,600 on T-58
Wichanee Meechai, +8, $17,600 on T-58
Paula Reto, +8, $17,600 T-58
Gaby Lopez, +8, $17,600 T-58
63: +10, Gemma Dryburgh, $16,043
64: +11 Ryann O’Toole, $15,676
65: +12, $15,309 Lee-Anne Pace