The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group announced an extension of the CME Group Tour Championship and the season-long Race to the CME Globe with an increased prize purse. The total prize money will go up to $11 million, with the winner pocketing a record $4 million.

The CME Group Tour Championship is the season-ending event on the LPGA Tour. Until 2023, the total prize purse was $7 million, with the winner getting $2 million. The extension of the title sponsorship that will be effective for 2024 and 2025, will see the second-place award increase to $1 million. Every golfer in a 60-player field in the season-ender will be awarded at least $55,000. This development has had many positive reactions.

Onwards and upwards

The renewed partnership between the world’s leading derivatives marketplace and LPGA will make women’s golf stronger and open up new opportunities. Little wonder then that pros and fans alike have reacted with excitement.

“What an announcement! Thankful for partnerships like the one we have with Terry Duffy (CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) and CME that help grow the womens game,” Lexi Thompson, a former Major champion and the 2017 Vare Trophy winner, posted on her Instagram handle. Her post almost instantly had 803 likes from fans, and growing.

Fellow pro Ryann O’Toole echoed Thompson’s sentiments, writing on her Instagram handle: “This is amazing! Thank you @cmegrouptourchamp and Duffy for the continued support to grow women’s golf!”

A $4 million winning purse will not only ensure that the tournament will have the largest single prize in women’s sports, according to Duffy, it will also bring women’s golf a step closer to the men’s events in terms of parity. The total prize money of $11 million will be the highest on the LPGA Tour.

Read more: 2022 CME Group Tour Championship: Prize Money Breakdown and Winner’s Payout

“… and the $4 million first-place prize will be the largest single prize in women’s sports. Both of these developments will make our event even more exciting for the players and spectators, while bringing more parity to the game,” Duffy told LPGA’s official website.

LPGA revels in positivity

“This partnership extension with CME Group is extremely important and underscores the growth and strength of the LPGA,” Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA Commissioner, told the website. Along with the CME Group Tour Championship, the Race to the CME Globe – the season-long points competition – has also been an integral part of the LPGA Tour calendar over the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, positive reactions continue to pour in from the golfers. Jessica Korda, last year’s Chevron Championship runners-up, posted on Instagram: “Thank you Terry! Pushing the women’s game to new heights!” The 2018 Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall thanked the @cmegrouptourchamp for “raising the bar”. What do you think of this new development in women’s golf?

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