A little more than a year after the USGA launched a 10-year sponsorship agreement with ProMedica, the two companies have parted ways.
A little more than a year after the USGA launched a 10-year sponsorship agreement with ProMedica, the two companies have parted ways.
ProMedica, an Ohio-based not-for-profit integrated health and well-being organization that serves communities in 28 states, was the first presenting sponsor in U.S. Women’s Open history and helped boost the championship’s purse in 2022 to a record $10 million.
USGA CEO Mike Whan confirmed to Golfweek that the two companies reached a separation agreement about a month ago, after ProMedica’s business took a downward turn.
“It doesn’t change anything about our commitment to where we play, how we play, how much we play for,” said Whan, “all those things remain the same.”
ProMedica gave Golfweek a statement that read in part:
“We are grateful for those partners like the USGA that understand the extreme financial challenges the healthcare industry has been navigating and have worked with us in a professional manner to reassess prior engagements.
“ProMedica, like many other health systems across the country, is experiencing financial strain coming off of 2022, which was declared the worst financial year for the healthcare industry since the start of the pandemic. While we were hopeful the industry’s financial performance was improving at the beginning of 2022, challenges like extreme staffing shortages and rapidly rising expenses proved to be significant hurdles.”
Whan said that while a number of companies have already expressed an interest in filling the role, he has told his team there’s no need to rush.
“I think anybody who had doubts about whether or not (a presenting sponsor) would be good for the women’s game,” said Whan, “and help lift the U.S. Women’s Open to another level, those doubts were eliminated.”
The 2023 U.S. Women’s Open will be played July 6-9 at Pebble Beach for the first time in tournament history.
The winner of the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open will get $1.8 million. The runner-up will earn more than last year’s champ.
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Stephanie Meadow finished third in her professional debut at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open on Pinehurst No. 2. She earned $285,102 for her efforts, a massive sum for a recent college graduate.
“I had a rough time in ’16 and ’17,” said Meadow of the years immediately following her father Robert’s death. “That money carried me through that.”
The U.S. Women’s Open purse has long had a life-changing impact, not just for winners, but for many like Meadow, who cash the biggest checks of their careers. Some, like her, won’t yet be tour members.
This week, that will likely happen more than ever with an historic $10 million purse on the table thanks in large part to the addition of ProMedica, the championship’s first presenting sponsor.
Brittany Lang echoes the thoughts of many of her peers when she says playing on the LPGA was never about the money. When she won this championship in 2016, she remembers walking in the parking lot with her mom and brother and asking, “What do you win for this? I don’t even know.”
It was always about the dream.
“Now that I’m close to hanging it up,” said Lang, “and I have a daughter, and you start thinking about money and you play worse.”
Lang made $810,000 when she won the Open at CordeValle.
The winner of this week’s championship will earn $1.8 million. The player who finishes runner-up will earn $1,080,000. That’s more than last year’s winner, Yuka Saso, who earned $1 million.
“Honestly, the thought of a $10 million purse just absolutely blows my mind to be perfectly honest,” said former major champ Karen Stupples. “I don’t even know how to think about money in those terms and how – what it means going into your bank account, what the potential is there in one big chunk, even for like a 30th place or a 40th place.”
Even those who miss the cut this week will receive $8,000, double last year.
Matilda Castren hoists the trophy during the final round of the 2021 LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, California. Photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Early on in her career, Matilda Castren had three seasons in which she lost money. She gave herself a five-year span to earn her LPGA card and make it.
“I remember looking at my bank account and there was $10 left,” said Castren. “OK, I just have to survive until next month, and then I know I’m getting a check. That’s a really common thing. I think a lot of people don’t realize it. People just think you’re living your dream playing golf every week. It’s really not as simple as that.”
Castren, 27, won seven times in college at Florida State and competed on the Epson Tour until earning her LPGA card for the 2020 season through Q-School. In 2021, she won LPGA Mediheal Championship to become the first player from Finland to win on tour. She earned $225,000 for her victory.
“It just felt so surreal,” she said, “just logging into my mobile app and seeing all the zeroes.”
A now-engaged Meadow would like to buy a house in the near future, but must weigh the risk of parting with a large chunk of money against the possibility that she might get injured or go through another rough patch where little money is coming in.
“I think the older you get,” she said, “the more you realize how lucky the (PGA Tour) guys are.”
How big is $10 million? Consider that next week’s purse at the ShopRite LPGA Classic is $1,750,000. There are 15 events on the LPGA schedule with purses that are less than $2 million.
“We don’t start playing golf for money,” said veteran Carolina Masson. “That’s not the incentive, that’s not the reason. But when you come out here, especially as a young player, money is an issue because you need a lot of money to do what you do for a full season.
“Playing for this kind of money is huge; it gives so much opportunity.”
The U.S. Women’s Open just set a new benchmark for women’s golf.
The U.S. Women’s Open just set a new benchmark for women’s golf.
With the addition of its first presenting sponsor in ProMedica, the purse for the USWO has been elevated to $10 million for 2022, nearly doubling last year’s purse of $5.5 million. There are plans to increase the purse to $12 million over the next five years.
In addition, five future sites were announced: Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California (2026); Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio (2027); Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina (2029); Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota (2030); and Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (2031 and 2042).
The 2022 U.S. Women’s Open returns to Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club June 2-5. In 2023, the championship will be contested for the first time at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Last summer, the AIG Women’s British Open set a new record for women’s golf with a $5.8 million prize fund. This year, when the event moves to Muirfield for the first time, players will compete for $6.8 million.
