Women’s British Open gets another bump in prize money to $10 million

Prize money keeps going up at the women’s majors.

The Chevron Championship bumped its purse an additional $1 million two days before the opening round to a record $9 million, and Nelly Korda went wire-to-wire to claim the $1.35 million top prize.

Two days later, The R&A and title sponsor AIG announced Tuesday yet another increase for the Women’s British Open to $10 million. That makes it the third LPGA major to have an eight-figure prize fund, trailing the U.S. Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA at $12 million each.

It’s only a $250,000 bump from last year at the Women’s British Open, but the partnership between The R&A and AIG is startling because it’s the sixth consecutive year with a purse increase.

The Women’s British Open is July 29 through Aug. 2 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. The last time it was held on those Lancashire links was in 2018, when Georgia Hall won and the purse was $3.25 million. The partnership began the next year, and the purse has more than tripled.

“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,” said Mark Darbon, the CEO of The R&A.

Along with more money, The R&A said the broadcast is being expanded to provide the most viewing (34 hours) of any of the women’s majors.

Three extra hours are being added for the weekday round. The Women’s British Open will be shown live for seven hours (5 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT) for the final two rounds — on Sky Sports and The R&A TV in the U.K., and a combination of Golf Channel, USA Network and NBC in the United States.

Open season for former athletes

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will have to try another year to make it to the U.S. Open. He shot 79 and missed out by 11 shots in the U.S. Open local qualifier Monday in Waco, Texas.

Romo is among eight former athletes who are going through the first stage of qualifying for the June 15-18 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Among baseball players are two-time All-Star relief pitcher Tyler Clippard, pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa and outfielder Aaron Hicks. The list also features tennis player Mardy Fish, former NFL running back Danny Woodhead and quarterback Drew Olson, and hockey player J.T. Miller.

Their 18-hole local qualifiers are next week at various courses, except for Hicks, who is at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix on May 11.

Ryder Cup tickets for Irish residents

Another year for the Ryder Cup brought more concern about ticket prices being too high. The cost of a daily ticket for the 2027 matches at Adare Manor in Ireland was 499 euros ($585), cheaper than the $750 for Bethpage Black in 2025, though that ticket came with food and nonalcoholic beverages.

The first batch of tickets went on sale last Friday exclusively for Irish residents. They sold out within an hour. Weekly tickets and practice round tickets sold out in under four hours.

PGA Championship deadline approaching

Keith Mitchell and Max Homa each received a sponsor exemption to the $20 million Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral this week, and the timing could not have been better.

This is the final week to secure a spot in the PGA Championship by being among the top 70 on its points list, which is based on official PGA Tour earnings dating to Colonial the week after last year’s PGA Championship.

Mitchell is at No. 73. Homa is at No. 74. There is no cut at Doral. Both are outside the top 100 in the world ranking — Mitchell at No. 108, Homa at No. 118 — which the PGA of America leans on to get the strongest field of the majors.

Most everyone ahead or below them on the PGA points list is in reasonable shape through being among the top 100 in the world.

Ryder Cup takes on what makes a good captain

One of the more befuddling opinions on Jim Furyk being appointed U.S. Ryder Cup captain again was his playing record in the matches. Furyk played on nine straight teams and compiled a 10-20-4 record while playing on two winning teams.

They go hand in hand — a winning individual record and winning team record — and that is born out by looking at other candidates.

Tiger Woods was 13-21-3 while playing on one winning team. Steve Stricker was captain of the U.S. team that had the largest margin of victory against Europe. His playing record was 3-7-1, including an 0-4 mark in his last appearance. Not to be overlooked is Paul Azinger, or “Captain America,” who led the U.S. to victory in 2008 and reshaped the qualifying system. His playing record was 5-8-3.

Sam Torrance had a 7-16-6 record as a Ryder Cup player when he made all the right moves in a European win in 2002.

Korn Ferry Tour to get its kicks on Route 66

Korn Ferry Tour will be chasing some bonus money across Route 66 this summer.

Compliance Solutions is behind “The Route 66 Cup” that will offer a $100,000 bonus pool to the leading three players who earned the most points in four Korn Ferry Tour events along the historic highway.

It starts with the OccuNet Classic (Amarillo, Texas) on June 11-14, goes to the Memorial Health Championship (Springfield, Illinois) on June 25-28, the Evans Scholars Invitational (Glenview, Illinois) on July 23-26 and concludes with the Compliance Solutions Championship (Owasso, Oklahoma) on Oct. 1-4.

The winner’s share will be $66,000.

Divots

Yani Tseng has accepted a special exemption to the U.S. Women’s Open on June 4-7 at Riviera. Tseng won five majors between 2008 and 2011 when she dominated women’s golf. Her best result at the Women’s Open was a tie for 10th. She withdrew after one round of The Chevron Championship last week. … The Genesis Scottish Open has extended its contract to be held at The Renaissance Club through 2030. The course is next to Muirfield, which last held the British Open in 2013 — five years after The Renaissance Club opened. … The R&A has announced the Women’s British Open will return to Sunningdale in 2028, the first time at the renowned Old Course since 2008. … Jordan Spieth is at No. 50 in the world, his first time among the top 50 since Sept. 7. He needs to stay in the top 60 after the PGA Championship to avoid U.S. Open qualifying.

Stat of the week

Nelly Korda has played in the final group in all five of her starts this year on the LPGA. Dating to her rookie season in 2017, she has been in the final group 28 times. Next on the list since 2017 is Minjee Lee at 23.

Final word

“For me personally, it’s just under a major. Winning this together with Alex, that’s how special it feels.” — Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, on winning the Zurich Classic with his brother Alex, who now has a two-year PGA Tour exemption.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf