Fifty years ago, the Women's British Open began with a 500-pound purse. Most of the money for that purse was put up by two players, Vivian Saunders and Gwen Brandom, who along with three other pros turned the British Ladies Stroke Play into an event for professionals.
This week at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, 66 players split a purse of $10 million. The winner receives a first-place check of $1.5 million, another new record for the event.
Total prize money at the Women's British Open has more than tripled since the R&A rook over the championship in 2017 and later brought on AIG as title sponsor. Players who missed the cut this week received $4,250.
Here's a look at the complete breakdown of prize money at the AIG. This page will be updated after
the tournament to reflect the full payouts.
AIG Women's Open 2026 prize money payouts
There were two amateurs who made the cut but who will not partake in the prize money.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 2026 AIG Women's British Open prize money payouts for each LPGA player
