U.S. Women's Open purse to nearly double to US$10M

SPORTS

U.S. Women's Open purse to nearly double to US$10M

Published Friday, January 7, 2022 1:45PM EST

Cheyenne Woods hits from the 12th tee during a practice round at the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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The U.S. Women's Open purse will nearly double this year to US$10 million from $5.5 million in 2021, the USGA announced on Friday.

The figure eclipses the previous benchmark set by the AIG British Women鈥檚 Open, which offered US$5.8 million in prize funds in 2021 and is expected to offer an additional $1 million this year.

"For more than 75 years, the U.S. Women鈥檚 Open has been the one that every little girl, in every country around the world, has dreamed of winning," USGA CEO Mike Whan said in a statement. "While I鈥檓 incredibly proud of what we are announcing today, I know this is just the beginning."

The USGA said it also planned to increase the prize fund to US$11 million and then $12 million in the next five years.

The oldest of the five women's golf majors, the tournament begins June 2 at Pine Needles in North Carolina.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York Editing by Toby Davis)