The R&A has increased the prize purse for the 2026 AIG Women's Open to a record $10 million, up $250,000 from last year. The event will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes. This marks the sixth straight year of purse growth for the championship.
The R&A revealed the purse boost on Tuesday, bringing the total payout at Royal Lytham & St Annes to $10 million. The winner will receive $1.5 million, a record share for the tournament. R&A CEO Mark Darbon highlighted the ongoing commitment, stating, “This is the sixth consecutive year that the AIG Women’s Open prize fund has been increased. These consistent and sustainable investments in the prize fund clearly demonstrate The R&A and AIG’s commitment to elevating the Championship on the global stage.” The purse has tripled since 2018, when it stood at $3.25 million during the last edition at the same venue. This follows recent increases elsewhere on the LPGA Tour. The 2026 Chevron Championship offered $9 million, with Nelly Korda earning $1.375 million for victory. Other majors like the U.S. Women’s Open ($12 million purse, Maja Stark won $2.4 million) and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship ($12 million, Minjee Lee took $1.8 million) lead the field, though men's majors range from $17 million to $21.5 million.
