Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire – The AIG Women’s Open has announced a historic increase in prize money, with the total purse set at a record $10 million (approximately £7.4m) for the 2026 Championship, despite organisers confirming the event is not currently profitable.
The 50th edition of the women’s major will be contested between 30 July and 2 August at Royal Lytham & St Annes, with around 50,000 spectators expected over the week.
Remarkable Growth Over Six Years
This marks the sixth consecutive year that the prize fund has increased, reflecting sustained investment by The R&A and title sponsor AIG. Last year’s purse stood at $9.75 million, which itself was a landmark at the time, with the winner taking home around $1.46m.
The continued growth underscores broader trends in the women’s game. The prize fund has more than tripled in under a decade, rising from just $3.25m when the Championship was last at Royal Lytham in 2018.
Investment Over Profit
The chief executive of The R&A, Mark Darbon, was clear about the organisation’s priorities: “At the moment it’s not profitable. We treat it as an investment into the game, but an absolutely critical investment.”
Darbon emphasised that the focus remains on growing the audience for women’s golf, both through expanded broadcast coverage and enhanced spectator experiences. He acknowledged the commercial challenges, noting that parity with the men’s Open—where the prize fund was $17m last year—is still some way off, but reiterated that the R&A wants to “reward the stars of our sport” in a sustainable fashion.
Elevated Broadcast and Future Venues
Alongside the prize announcement, the R&A confirmed that broadcast hours for the 2026 Championship will increase significantly, offering fans more opportunities to follow the action live.
Darbon also revealed that the 2028 Women’s Open will be played at Sunningdale’s Old Course in Surrey, further underlining the commitment to staging the championship at some of the world’s most iconic courses.
Impact on Women’s Golf
The announcement comes amid a broader period of growth for the women’s professional game. Increased purses at majors, consistent sponsorship investment, and expanded global broadcast exposure are creating greater visibility and opportunity. Experts believe these developments will help accelerate the sport’s development and inspire a new generation of players.
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