The US Women’s Open Golf concluded in Pennsylvania on Sunday, with the young Philippine-Japanese star Yuka Saso winning the event and claiming the record prize money. The story of how it has grown relative to the Men’s US Open is interesting.
This year’s total prize money for the Women’s Open was €12 million, versus a pot of €20 million for the Men’s.
The Men’s was at the same level as the Women’s is today back in 2018, six years ago and with six years until the end of the decade, perhaps that is a target for when equality will be delivered.
Cricket back in 2017 announced that 2030 would be the date for equal reward at all men’s and women’s tournaments but accelerated that so it is in place now.
FIFA has said it wants to achieve equality in prize money by the next cycle of the 2026 and 2027 World Cups but that it will depend on greater contributions from broadcast partners.
Each of the Golf Majors is run under different management so a statement on equality is more challenging but that does not mean it should be pushed to the side.
The Women’s US Open Prize money doubled to €10 million in 2022 when a sponsor, ProMedica was brought on for the first time.
That deal only lasted a year but the tournament held its ground last year and with a new presenting Sponsor, Ally Bank in place this year the pot has nudged north again by an additional €2 million.
The US Golf Association has begun the renegotiation of a new TV deal, currently worth $1.1 Billion over 12 years and while the Men’s and Women’s games have been bundled together up until now, there is the potential for that being split out.
Nelly Korda is a superstar within the sport and is young enough to be a leading player throughout the next deal. Leona Maguire and many others are building a profile on a global stage and the potential of a separate deal for the Women’s game would hasten the growth of sponsorship and other commercial investment.
Interesting times ahead.
