The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, commonly known as the R&A, announced that the official prize purse for the 2026 AIG Women's Open will rise once again, marking the sixth straight year of increases. The tournament, which will be contested at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in July, will now feature a total prize fund of $10 million (approximately £7.43 million), offering a substantial financial incentive for the world’s elite women golfers. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon also disclosed the venues for the next two editions of the championship. In 2027, the event will move to the storied Royal St George's Golf Club, while the 2028 edition is slated for the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club.
"We know Sunningdale will provide an outstanding venue in two years' time," Darbon said, adding that this will be the fifth occasion the championship has been staged at Sunningdale and the first since 2008. The increase for 2026 adds an extra $250,000 (£185,651) to the purse compared with the previous year, a decision driven by the success of the 2025 tournament.
That edition saw Japan’s Miyu Yamashita capture her first major title, edging out Charley Hull and Minami Katsu by two strokes. Yamashita’s victory underscored the growing global competitiveness of the women’s game and helped justify the R&A’s continued investment in prize money. The 2026 tournament also carries symbolic weight, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open.
The inaugural event in 1967 was won by England’s Jenny Lee Smith, and the prize fund at that time was a modest $673.31 (£500). Over the past five decades, the championship has evolved from a modest national competition into a premier global major, with prize money expanding by more than 14,000 times.
In addition to the financial boost, the R&A is expanding broadcast coverage dramatically. Viewers in the United Kingdom and the United States will enjoy roughly 20 percent more live television hours than in 2025, with full coverage slated for Sky Sports. Early-round windows will give fans a glimpse of the opening leaders, while marquee groups will be featured between 9 am and 1 pm each day.
Comprehensive main‑session coverage will run from 1 pm to 7 pm, spanning the entire tournament week from July 29 to August 2. "Our broadcast coverage is fundamental to that ambition and with a 20 percent increase in live hours compared to 2025, we are setting a new benchmark for women's golf," Darbon explained. He emphasized that the AIG Women’s Open now delivers more linear television hours in both the UK and US than any other women’s golf championship, providing unprecedented access to the sport’s top talent. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to grow the global audience and further professionalise the women’s game.
The tournament’s leaderboard will be closely watched, especially after Shiho Kuwaki’s dramatic play‑off victory over Esther Henseleit at Royal Lytham & St Annes, a win that highlighted the depth of competition. Other storylines include Charley Hull’s ongoing rivalry with Nelly Korda, her comments on the intense competition, and her continued contention heading into the final round. Meanwhile, the Solheim Cup captain for Team Europe, Anna Nordqvist, discussed the challenges of balancing playing duties with the qualification campaign, adding another layer of intrigue to the week’s events.
Fans can tune in to all four rounds live on Sky Sports this July, either through a traditional Sky Sports subscription or via streaming options that do not require a long‑term contract. The increased prize fund, expanded broadcast schedule, and historic venues together signal a bright future for the AIG Women’s Open, reinforcing its status as a flagship event in women’s professional golf and celebrating half a century of growth, competition, and inspiration for future generations of players.