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The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship announced on Tuesday that it’s raising the purse of the major championship to $12 million this week, which ties it for the largest purse of the season. The other $12 million purse belongs to the U.S. Women’s Open, played last month. The winner this week at PGA Frisco will take home $1.8 million. The KPMG purse last year was $10.4 million.
“We’re incredibly proud to be able to do that,” said Paul Knopp, the KPMG chair and CEO. “It’s all part of creating a standard of excellence in women’s golf. The purse is a hugely important part of that. … We look at it as the ultimate strategy when we think about the excellence we’re trying to bear to bring success. We continue to play this tournament on iconic courses that are recognised by the golf community every year. … We’re excited about where we’re going.”
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KPMG also has the most comprehensive broadcast coverage of any tournament on tour this season, with live, streaming and ancillary coverage of nearly 100 hours, another feather in the cap for Knopp and KPMG. Peacock, Golf Channel and NBC are broadcasting the tournament with KPMG using featured groups streaming on Peacock for the first time, something the other majors have done as well.
The purse increase is impactful. The collective purse on tour this season is now $130.9 million. KPMG has designated $1.8 million for the winner, which is the standard 15 percent of the purse. When Maja Stark won the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this month, she got a payday of $2.4 million as that purse was structured with more to the winner.
“Purses are fine. We’re doing great,” Stark said. “They’ve been going up a lot lately.”
KPMG, the third major of the year, is being played for the first time at the Fields Ranch East Course at PGA Frisco, a huge property which is home to the PGA of America. Here, there are coaching facilities, a hotel, dining and more on the property, which is located 30 miles north of Dallas.
PGA Frisco will host the PGA Championship in 2027, followed by the Senior PGA Championship in 2029.
One of the bells and whistles this week is elevated stats and new technology to benefit players, media and fans. KPMG uses artificial intelligence with audits for its clients, and it’s bringing that to golf course this week. Detailed data will be available for all 156 players in the field, and new technology includes AI-generated scoring targets.
KPMG hopes it all adds up to a premier experience for all.
“No. 1, we’re definitely trying to elevate this tournament to the point where all of the stakeholders recognise it’s the most excellent event on tour and we’re aiming for that,” Knopp said. “We’re certainly trying to ensure that for these women who are world-class athletes. They deserve that kind of experience … we’re trying to be the catalyst for future change to make women’s golf and every event better.”
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Main Image: Steph Chambers
