The Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G has grown into one of the LPGA Tour’s premier events, thanks in no small part to its impressive $2 million purse. The winner at this year’s tournament will take home $300,000, a figure that puts the Cincinnati stop in line with some of the tour’s biggest non-major paydays.

Runners-up and top-10 finishers will also secure significant checks, with second place earning just under $190,000 and third close to $140,000. Even players who just make the cut are guaranteed earnings, making the financial stakes as competitive as the golf itself. Since its debut in 2022, when the purse was $1.75 million, the prize pool has climbed quickly, cementing this championship as a vital stop for players chasing triophies and paydays.

That kind of financial backing has been matched by the event’s prestige. First staged in 2022 at Kenwood Country Club, the tournament brought the LPGA Tour back to southwest Ohio for the first time in more than three decades. In 2024, it shifted venues to TPC River’s Bend in Hamilton Township, an Arnold Palmer design. Beyond the fairways, the Kroger Queen City Championship has anchored itself in the community through initiatives like the “Game Changers” scholarships, awarded to 23 female students across Kroger’s markets in partnership with P&G and Always®. These honorees are celebrated during tournament week.

Having said all that, let’s take a look at the complete prize money breakdown for the top 65 players of the tournament:

The 2025 edition features 144 players, including eight of the world’s top 10 and 21 winners from this LPGA season, easily the deepest lineup in the event’s short history.

Players to look out for at the Kroger Queen City Championship

Defending champion Lydia Ko is the clear player to watch this week. She dominated TPC River’s Bend last year, winning by five strokes, and since then, her form hasn’t slowed. Ko has already notched her 23rd career victory at the HSBC Women’s World Championship this season. Then she went on to add three other top-10 finishes, including a T5 at the CPKC Women’s Open. Known for her undefeatable talent, the Hall of Famer is expected to be near the top of the leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round. Currently, Ko is tied at 45 on the scoreboard of the tournament.

Jeeno Thitikul, the current world No. 1, is another major contender. The 22-year-old has been steady throughout the season, posting four top-10 finishes in her last six events. This included a win at the Mizuho Americas Open in May. Last year, she finished runner-up to Ko at TPC River’s Bend. Her well-rounded game makes her a constant threat. She is currently at T26 on the leaderboard.

Other players bringing serious form include Minjee Lee and Nelly Korda. Lee won this event in 2023 at Kenwood Country Club. This season, she has enjoyed four top-3 finishes, highlighted by her KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory, and ranks fourth in the world. As of now, Lee is tied at 26 on the scoreboard. Korda, on the other hand, is still searching for her first win of 2025, remains No.2 globally, and has been remarkably consistent. She had five top-10 finishes and secured a T5 and a T3 in the 2024 and 2023 editions of this event, respectively. She is currently at T9 on the leaderboard.