How Haeran Ryu’s historic Women’s PGA Championship payday boosted her career earnings
Jun 28, 2026; Chaska, Minnesota, USA; Haeran Ryu kisses the LPGA Championship Trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Jun 28, 2026; Chaska, Minnesota, USA; Haeran Ryu kisses the LPGA Championship Trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Before the 2026 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, Haeran Ryu had earned $6.65 million in her LPGA career.
The 25-year-old LPGA golfer left Hazeltine with a record-breaking payday. Haeran Ryu earned $1.95 million after winning her first major championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. It marked the largest winner's check in the tournament's history.
The 25-year-old South Korean finished at 13 under par, pushing her post-victory career earnings past the $8.5 million milestone, per her LPGA Tour profile.
Jun 28, 2026; Chaska, Minnesota, USA; Haeran Ryu poses with the LPGA Championship Trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Jun 28, 2026; Chaska, Minnesota, USA; Haeran Ryu poses with the LPGA Championship Trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Ryu carried the 54-hole lead into Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club and finished with a 2-under 70 in her final round to beat Ina Yoon by two shots.
The $1.95 million payout came from KPMG's record-breaking $13 million purse. According to Golf Channel's reporting on June 22, the tournament paid just $3.5 million as recently as 2017 and hit $12 million last year.
The 2026 figure represents a 271% increase since 2015.
The victory marked Ryu's first major championship and the fourth LPGA Tour title of her career.
It came in her first tournament back after a six-week absence following a medical procedure. Ryu, who was named the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year, has now won at least once in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA.
How the KPMG Purse Got Here
The KPMG Women's PGA Championship has experienced monumental prize purse growth over the last decade.
"When we started, the purse was $2 million; now $13 million. That’s almost a 500 percent increase in supporting that purse, which supports these incredible female athletes. I’m so proud to do that in partnership with the PGA of America and the LPGA Tour,” Tim Walsh, chair and CEO of KPMG U.S., told Golf Digest.
The tournament's prize money was $3.5 million from 2015 to 2017. It went up to $9 million in 2022, $10 million in 2023, $10.4 million in 2024, $12 million in 2025, and reached a record $13 million in 2026, according to Golf Channel.
“We’re so proud to increase our investment and support the female athletes behind this sport,” said Tim Walsh, chair and CEO of KPMG U.S.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda fell short in her bid to win three consecutive majors in 2026, finishing tied for eighth at 6 under par. Korda had already won the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open this season.
What do you think about the growth of prize money in women's golf? Let us know in the comments!
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Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Shubhi Rathore