CME Group Tour Championship Sees LPGA’s Best Compete for $2 Million!

A showdown amongst the best in the world awaits at the CME Tour Championship, the showdown at the end of the LPGA Schedule. A lot has been said about the tournament purse, which sits at $7,000,000. One of the tournament favorites, Nelly Korda, has already weighed in during Wednesday’s press conference, explaining that the pre-tournament rankings don’t matter:

“No. 1 in the world or 60^th, this week, everyone has a fair chance.”

“Doesn’t matter if you are No. 1 in the world or 60th this week. Everyone has a fair chance.”@ROLEX Rankings #1 @NellyKorda is ready for this weekend’s @CMEGroupLPGA 💪 pic.twitter.com/Fs1OyNG0xv

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 16, 2022

Korda also outlined that one doesn’t get any strokes going into the event just because you are ranked higher – which could be referencing the FedEx Cup format over on the PGA Tour, played at East Lake yearly since 2004.

In a year where tournament purses have dominated headlines, it is good to see the interest being generated for this milestone event in the LPGA schedule. The excitement is clear to witness as players are interviewed and asked what they would do with the winnings.

Korda said she’d buy a new car. Some suggested a home for their parents. Jennifer Kupcho considered purchasing a boat or traveling, Andrea Lee, Paula Reto, and many more just seemed awestruck at the figure that is on the line.

Number Crunch

The total tournament purse at the CME is $7 million, which is huge but not record-breaking in the LPGA schedule, which saw an eight-figure tournament purse at the US Open in the summer.

The reason this tournament purse is turning heads is the percentage dedicated to the winner. Usually, the victor in the LPGA takes home 15% of the total purse. In men’s PGA events, the figure is around 18%. For a $5 million purse, you’re hovering between $750,000 and just under $1m. The CME is unique in that it dedicates $2,000,000 to the winner – almost 30% of the purse.

60 of the world’s best.

A $2 million winner’s check.

Who will take home the prize this week at the CME Group Tour Championship? ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/Y41lzQmJCz

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 15, 2022

The breakdown is as follows:

1sr: $2,000,000

2^nd: $550,000

3^rd: $340,000

4^th: $250,000

5^th: $195,000

Country music star 🤝 Golf star

While getting ready to perform at the @CMEGroupLPGA tonight, @KeithUrban checked out the golf and met the world #1, @NellyKorda! pic.twitter.com/ir4DYf3CVy

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 16, 2022

The top eight golfers are guaranteed six figures, with 10^th place earning 1.25% of the purse at $87,500. Still not a bad week’s work, and significantly better odds with a 60-person field. For full transparency, last place still nets $40,000, or 0.57% of the purse.

This is a huge opportunity to showcase some high-quality sport and be paid handsomely for doing so. The $40,000 guarantee on arrival doesn’t hurt either. It is clearly life-changing money, and with the LIV golfers often earning seven figures for a top-10 finish, it can be easy to forget that some of these world-class female athletes are driving around in second-hand cars and paying off debts. A much more relatable scenario. We have the chance to watch 40 of the top 50 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking contend this week, and with so much on the line, the 2022 CME Group Tour Championship promises to be a fine spectacle between the world’s best.

Cover Image Via GolfDigest