KUALA LUMPUR – After a six-year hiatus, the Maybank Championship makes its return to Malaysia with a remarkable prize purse of US$3 million (RM14.32 million), making it the most lucrative non-major tournament on the LPGA Tour in Asia.
The event will be hosted at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) from Thursday to Sunday.
LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan acknowledged the substantial prize but highlighted the significant disparity between winnings in men’s and women’s golf.
“Golf faces a significant challenge when it comes to prize money. We are still trailing behind the men, creating a considerable gap,” she told reporters ahead of the championship here, today.
In LPGA’s effort to bridge this gap and elevate women’s golf, Samaan stressed the need to improve the quality of their products – the players.
“To achieve our goals, we must enhance our commercial value and place our players in a competitive market.
“We aim to showcase the world’s wealth of great female players, securing proper broadcast rights on television and using technology to engage golf fans through comprehensive player data.
“The mindset of corporations around the world is that they see there is great value women’s golf brings to the table. So we believe this trend will continue to rise,” she added.
Samaan also said, the disparity in earnings is not just between male and female golfers but also within the LPGA itself.
Top-ranked players earned around US$500,000 in the LPGA Tour last year, while those ranked 100 and lower faced a considerable income gap, with some taking home as little as US$167,000.
Therefore, Samaan said LPGA’s focus extends beyond closing the gender earnings gap.
The tour is committed to raising the incomes of players ranked 100 and lower, ensuring that all LPGA professionals have the opportunity to compete for more substantial prizes. – October 24, 2023