How The AIG Women’s Open Prize Money Has Grown

Formerly sponsored by Weetabix and Ricoh, The Women’s British Open became the AIG Women's Open in 2019 through a sponsorship deal that extends until 2025 – which has been good news for those competing. 

AIG, in alliance with The R&A, is dedicated in helping to elevate and advance women's golf by shining a spotlight on gender equity, especially gender pay equity.

The prize fund for the 2023 AIG Women’s Open was confirmed a day before play got underway, and it now stands at $9m, a 23% increase on last year’s prize fund of $7.3m, of which Ashleigh Buhai claimed $1.095m for her win.

Here's how the Women’s British Open prize money has grown since AIG became a title sponsor, and how it's increased since it was first recognised as a Major Championship by the LPGA in 1994.

How The Women’s British Open Prize Money Has Grown

• 2023 – $9m 
• 2022 – $7.3m
• 2021 – $5.8m
• 2020 – $4.5m
• 2019 – $4.5m (beginning of The R&A’s partnership with AIG)
• 2018 – $3.25m
• 2017 – $3.25m
• 2016 – $3m
• 2015 – $3m
• 2014 – $3m
• 2013 – $2.75m
• 2012 – $2.75m
• 2011 – $2.5m
• 2010 – $2.5m
• 2009 – $2.2m
• 2008 – $2.1m
• 2007 – $2m
• 2006 – $1.8m
• 2005 – $1.8m
• 2004 – $1.6m
• 2003 – $1.6m
• 2002 – $1.5m
• 2001 – $1.5m
• 2000 – $1.25m
• 1999 – $1m
• 1998 – $1m
• 1997 – $900,000
• 1996 – $850,000
• 1995 – $600,000
• 1994 – $500,000

How Does Prize Money Compare To The Men's Open Championship?

At the 151st Open Championship, winner Brian Harman took home a cheque for $3 million.

The game's oldest Major Championship was just played for pride back in 1860, but at Royal Liverpool in 2023, the best male golfers in the world competed for a total prize fund of $16.5 million.

Prize Funds For The 2023 Women’s Majors

With a prize fund of $9 million in 2023, there are two women’s golf Majors that boast bigger prize funds than the AIG Women's Open – the KPMG PGA Championship and U.S. Women’s Open, the latter of which has the biggest purse in the women’s Major season.

• Chevron Championship $5.1 million
• KPMG Women's PGA Championship $10 million
• U.S. Women’s Open $11 million
• Evian Championship $6.5 million
• AIG Women's Open $9 million