This summer, the AIG Women's British Open will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a prize fund of $10 million. The R&A announced the increase earlier this week during its media day at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The event began in 1976 when it was decided to add professionals to the Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play. The total prize fund that inaugural year was 500 pounds.
Laura Davies won it 40 years ago, taking home 9,000 pounds. The event became a women's major in 2001, when Se Ri Pak won it at Sunningdale. The purse 25 years ago was $1.5 million, less that what the winner now receives since the R&A and AIG came onboard in 2019.
The 2026 purse marks the sixth consecutive increase by organizers. When Georgia Hall won at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018, the purse was $3.25 million. It has since tripled.
In addition to the purse increase, television coverage will include three additional hours of live coverage for the first two rounds. The weekend will include seven hours of live coverage, bringing the total number of broadcast hours to 34 across four days of competition.
Children under 16 can attend for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Youth tickets (ages 16 to 24) are available at half price.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Women's British Open increases purse to $10 million, expands TV
