The R&A has announced that the prize fund for next month’s AIG Women’s British Open will increase to US$4.5m, representing a boost of almost 40% on last year’s total.
Taking place on the Marquess Course at Woburn from August 1-4, the AIG Women’s British Open now offers the second highest prize fund of the five Major Championships in the women’s game. The increase comes in the first year of AIG’s five-year partnership as title sponsor and will see the winner take home a first prize of $675,000. Last year’s winner, Georgia Hall, won $490,000 for her victory at Royal Lytham.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We recognised that more needed to be done to elevate the prize fund for this great championship and are pleased that we have been able to make a significant increase this year as part of The R&A’s commitment to women’s golf. This is an important first step and we know it will take time to move closer to achieving parity with the men’s game. We will continue to work toward the long-term goal of a sustainable business model but we can’t do it alone and the support of fans, sponsors and media are all key to achieving that success.”
Defending champion Georgia Hall will head a field rich in the world’s best players for the year’s final Major, including nine of the past ten champions, among them Ariya Jutanugarn, who won by three shots at Woburn in 2016.