US Women's Open Golf Winner to Receive $1M Prize Money After Event Purse Raised

The winner of the 2019 U.S. Women's Open will receive $1 million in prize money for the first time in the tournament's history after the United States Golf Association raised the purse.

Per Joel Beall of Golf Digest, it was announced on Tuesday the purses for both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open have been raised by $500,000. The top prize for the women's tournament will now be $1 million, a significant increase on the $900,000 Ariya Jutanugarn took home after her 2018 triumph.

The total purse for the tournament, which starts Thursday at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina, will be $5.50 million, up from $5.00 million in 2018.

By comparison, the prize fund for the 2019 U.S. Open, which starts on June 13 at Pebble Beach in California, will be $12.50 million, with the winner claiming $2.25 million.

Per Beall, USGA senior managing director John Bodenhamer said the prize money increases were aimed at improving competitor experience at the tournaments:

"The USGA is committed to providing an unparalleled experience to every player competing in its championships. Through strategic investments in our player relations program, we are continuing the effort to create a competitor experience commensurate with the game’s most prestigious championships, and that includes an increased purse and a continued commitment to make playing in an Open championship unforgettable for the world’s top amateur players."

In the women's game, the U.S. Open is the second major of the year.

Jin Young Ko captured her first career major at April's 2019 ANA Inspiration:

The South Korean is among the favourites to win in Charleston this week, along with Australia's Minjee Lee and Canada's Brooke Henderson. 

Defending champion Jutanugarn will be looking to become the first woman since Karrie Webb in 2001 to win the tournament in successive years.