18 August 2021, Carnoustie, Scotland: The AIG Women’s Open has set a new benchmark for prize money in women’s golf with the announcement that the prize fund for this year’s championship will increase by $1.3 million to $5.8 million with the winner earning $870,000.
With the support of title sponsor AIG, the largest prize fund in women’s major championship golf will increase by a further $1 million to no less than $6.8 million in 2022. This will more than double the prize fund from 2018 before AIG’s partnership with The R&A commenced.
The AIG Women’s Open takes place from 19-22 August at Carnoustie and will be played in 2022 at Muirfield, another of Scotland’s world-renowned links courses.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “We are absolutely committed to elevating the AIG Women’s Open and enhancing its status as one of golf’s premier championships. With our partners at AIG, we are taking action to make change happen and sending out a strong signal that more needs to be done by everyone involved to grow women’s golf. It needs greater investment and support from golf bodies, sponsors, the media and fans to help us grow the game’s commercial success and generate the income and revenues necessary to make prize fund growth viable and sustainable.
“We have set a new benchmark for prize money in women’s major championship golf this week and, thanks to AIG, will build on it still further next year. We hope this will inspire other events to follow our lead and help us to take a collective leap forward for the women’s game.”
Peter Zaffino, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIG, said, “AIG is proud to be the title sponsor of the AIG Women’s Open, which is one of the most prestigious and celebrated golf championships in the world. We are committed to serving as allies to women in golf, in business and in the communities where we live and work. Striving for pay equity and highlighting the achievements of successful women are critical components to this commitment and part of AIG’s core values. We are very pleased with today’s announcement as it represents an important step forward in raising the profile of women’s golf and the status of the AIG Women’s Open. We thank The R&A for their excellent partnership and I am confident that together we will continue to lead the way in achieving meaningful progress.”
In 2019, in AIG’s first year as title sponsor of the championship the prize fund was increased by $1.25 million to $4.5 million, an increase of almost 40% on the previous year.
The prize fund for the 2021 AIG Women’s Open is set out below:
| Place | USD | Place | USD |
| 1 | 870,000 | 39 | 31,597 |
| 2 | 572,750 | 40 | 30,339 |
| 3 | 414,828 | 41 | 29,082 |
| 4 | 320,356 | 42 | 27,824 |
| 5 | 257,382 | 43 | 26,560 |
| 6 | 210,146 | 44 | 25,302 |
| 7 | 175,507 | 45 | 24,357 |
| 8 | 153,467 | 46 | 23,412 |
| 9 | 137,721 | 47 | 22,467 |
| 10 | 125,124 | 48 | 21,522 |
| 11 | 115,674 | 49 | 20,577 |
| 12 | 107,802 | 50 | 19,632 |
| 13 | 100,874 | 51 | 19,006 |
| 14 | 94,578 | 52 | 18,374 |
| 15 | 88,909 | 53 | 17,742 |
| 16 | 83,871 | 54 | 17,116 |
| 17 | 79,465 | 55 | 16,484 |
| 18 | 75,685 | 56 | 15,852 |
| 19 | 72,537 | 57 | 15,226 |
| 20 | 70,015 | 58 | 14,594 |
| 21 | 67,500 | 59 | 13,968 |
| 22 | 64,978 | 60 | 13,336 |
| 23 | 62,462 | 61 | 13,023 |
| 24 | 59,940 | 62 | 12,704 |
| 25 | 57,737 | 63 | 12,391 |
| 26 | 55,534 | 64 | 12,078 |
| 27 | 53,325 | 65 | 11,759 |
| 28 | 51,122 | 66 | 11,446 |
| 29 | 48,920 | 67 | 11,133 |
| 30 | 47,030 | 68 | 10,814 |
| 31 | 45,140 | 69 | 10,501 |
| 32 | 43,250 | 70 | 10,189 |
| 33 | 41,360 | 71 | 7,604 |
| 34 | 39,470 | 72 | 7,428 |
| 35 | 37,899 | 73 | 7,252 |
| 36 | 36,322 | 74 | 7,076 |
| 37 | 34,751 | 75 | 6,900 |
| 38 | 33,174 | 76 | 6,725 |
Ends.
Notes to Editors:
About the AIG Women’s Open
First established in 1976 and now owned by The R&A, the AIG Women’s Open is one of five Major championships in women’s golf.
Each year 144 players compete for the championship trophy with the low amateur, who plays 72 holes, awarded the Smyth Salver.
The AIG Women’s Open will be played at Carnoustie Golf Links from 16-22 August 2021. Future venues will include Muirfield (2022), Walton Heath (2023), St Andrews (2024) and Royal Porthcawl (2025).
The Championship is the showpiece for The R&A’s commitment to growing women and girls’ golf via the Women in Golf Charter. The AIG Women’s Open aims to champion the changing face of women’s golf; to inspire, engage and provoke in order to challenge perceptions that will shape the future of the sport.
About AIG
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services to customers in approximately 80 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter: @AIGinsurance www.twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with additional information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release.
AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries and jurisdictions, and coverage is subject to underwriting requirements and actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.
About The R&A
The R&A group of companies was formed in 2004 to take on The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ responsibilities for governing the Rules of Golf, staging The Open, golf’s original championship, and developing the sport. The R&A World Golf Museum in St Andrews is part of the R&A group.
Together The R&A and the USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions with a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards. The R&A, through R&A Rules Ltd, governs the sport worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, on behalf of over 36 million golfers in 146 countries and with the consent of 159 organisations from amateur and professional golf.
The R&A has responsibility for running a series of world class amateur events and international matches in women’s and girls’ as well as men’s and boys’ golf. The R&A stages the AIG Women’s Open and works with the European Tour to stage the Senior Open presented by Rolex.
The R&A is committed to investing £200 million over ten years in developing golf and supports the growth of the sport internationally, including the development and management of sustainable golf facilities. For more information, visit www.randa.org.