NAPLES, Fla. — Before Angel Yin took any questions from the press on Thursday at the CME Group Tour Championship, she had her manager run to get her shades. Yin has an endorsement with a South Korean sunglasses company and wanted to make sure they were in the camera shot.
For a while, sponsorships were hard to come by for the always-entertaining Yin. She’d gone four years without a logo, and while she felt desperate about it at times, made the best of the situation. When Yin won the Aon Risk Reward Challenge at the end of 2023, she took home a $1 million bonus check.
This week, she could leave Naples with a record $4 million winner’s prize.
“It got my freedom,” said Yin of how last year’s seven-figure check changed her life. “Allowed me to hire people that I want, add more members to my team this year.”
Yin opened with a 7-under 65 at Tiburon Golf Club to trail leader Narin An by one stroke. LPGA Hall of Fame member Lydia Ko holds a share of fifth after an opening 67. No. 1 Nelly Korda, who won her seventh title last week, opened with an even-par 72.
Bailey Tardy remembers earning $30,000 for winning on the Epson Tour three years ago and thinking, “Wow, I’m set.”
“Then you kind of see how quickly the money depletes when you’re traveling on the road so much,” she said.
Fast forward to January 2024 when Tardy bought a house.
“I’d never had rent more than $1,000,” she said. “My mortgage is like $2,000 and I was really stressed about – not how I was going to pay for it – but managing my money on the road and then also being able to pay for my mortgage.”
Winning in March of this year took care of that when she earned $330,000 at the Blue Bay LPGA. She set aside her mortgage and utilities for the year and felt the financial stress lift away.
More money than three of the men’s majors
Imagine then, what $4 million could do. The runner-up this week earns $1 million and last place is guaranteed $55,000 of the $11 million purse.
“This $4 million prize is bigger than three out of the four men’s majors,” said LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, “and it’s what our players deserve. We’re super proud that we’re here.”
Lexi Thompson’s first big check came early. She was only 16 when she won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic and the $195,000 winner’s prize. Thompson bought a black Camaro SS with custom body kit, billet grille and chrome rims.
“I actually still have it,” said Thompson. “My mom drives it.”
Andrea Lee’s biggest career check came earlier this year at the U.S. Women’s Open when she finished in a share of third and earned $664,778.
Lee, who still lives at home with her parents, describes herself as a saver.
“I think my parents have instilled that in me,” said Lee, who’s putting away for retirement. I won’t be playing my entire life, maybe 10 more years or so.
“Money is not going to always come my way, gotta save up as much as I can.”
‘Exciting to me to give away that $4 million’
CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy has been at the forefront of LPGA growth for some time, pushing prize funds into unprecedented territory.
On Wednesday, the LPGA and CME announced an extension of the CME Group Tour Championship and the season-long Race to the CME Globe through 2027.
“It’s exciting to me to give away that $4 million,” said Duffy, “and I hope I‘m turning on the TV in a few years and someone is giving them $10 million.”