Talk of money always seems gauche. Whether it’s from the uncouth in-law or the perpetually ungrateful uncle, questions such as “how much does she make?” or “how much is it worth?” come off as social faux pas, that kind of awkward conversation stoppers that lead to pursed lips, furrowed brows and long silences at the dinner table.
In sports, these discussions get especially grubby when salaries that would make King Midas blush get thrown around like New Year confetti. Golf is no exception. With inflation and a volatile economy squeezing middle-class wages, average fans look askance, for example, at some of the LIV Golf contracts and PIP bonuses that PGA Tour players get for generating Instagram likes.
But you can’t make that case when talking about the LPGA Tour. For the first time in history, the best women in the game will play for nine figures in total purses in 2023. And no one begrudges them a penny of it.
“We had a lot to cheer for in 2022: more televised LPGA coverage in more countries than at any point in history; 27 players who earned more than $1 million, … plus a 30-percent increase in sponsorships. … But (2023) will be even bigger and better.” — LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan
Led by increased purses in the five major championships, plus the continued commitment of CME Group with its $7 million Tour Championship, total purses for the 33 regular LPGA Tour events is $101.4 million, the largest in history.
“We had a lot to cheer for in 2022: more televised LPGA coverage in more countries than at any point in history; 27 players who earned more than $1 million, the most of any year in history; plus a 30-percent increase in sponsorships,” said LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “But (2023) will be even bigger and better. We have fabulous new events on the schedule, including the return of the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park, the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro at Wilshire Country Club, the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Course and The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
“Once again, we will have more television coverage than at any time in the past. And, thanks to the help of our wonderful partners, we will be able to provide fans with more detailed statistics on their favorite players through the KPMG Performance Insight Program.”
Leading the charge will be one of the game’s best ambassadors and a woman who very well could set another youngest-ever record in the next 12 months. Lydia Ko captured more than $4 million last year, the second-highest single-season total in LPGA Tour history behind Lorena Ochoa. Ko also earned the Rolex LPGA Player of the Year award as well as the Vare Trophy for low stroke average. Her 68.99 was only the second sub-69 average in tour history. The other belongs to Annika Sörenstam.
With three wins and all the postseason hardware, Ko enters 2023 needing only two points to earn a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame, which is arguably the most difficult hall to enter in all of sports. Unlike the World Golf Hall of Fame, which is voted on by a committee, or the baseball hall, which is voted on by selected sports writers, the LPGA Hall of Fame requires 27 earned points for entry. You get one point for a win, two for winning a major and a point each for winning the Vare Trophy and Player of the Year.
Ko sits at 25 points at age 25. The youngest player to enter the hall was Inbee Park, at 27. Given every other “youngest ever” record that Ko holds – youngest woman to win a first and second major at 18 since the LPGA’s 1950 founding; youngest winner on the LPGA Tour at 15; youngest person, man or woman, to reach No. 1 in the world at 17 – she definitely has the hall on her mind.
She also has a new perspective on life. On December 30, a clear, brisk day in Seoul, South Korea, Ko married Jun Chung at the historic Myeongdong Cathedral, a mile from the historic palaces of old-town Seoul. A dozen tour players attended, including Inbee Park, In Gee Chun, sisters Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn, Chella Choi, and Danielle Kang.
The bride greeted guests and posed for photos in a rectory before the Mass and hung around for a few shots afterward.
Golf didn’t come up all day. But the bride and groom did send a note asking attendees to forego the Korean tradition of bringing money as a gift. Unlike your uncle at Christmas, Lydia and Jun understood that taking a few bucks from their wedding guests, no matter how well meaning the gesture, would not have been the best look.
Class is in their DNA.
No one knows whether Ko will show up for the season-opening LPGA Tour event, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on January 19-22, even though she lives on the Lake Nona course in Orlando, Florida, where it’s being held.
Kang, the defending champion who helped Ko with her hair before the wedding, will be there, as will a host of celebrities to kick things off.
But all eyes in 2023 will be on the newlywed. Ko set another record in 2022 for the longest gap between appearances at the top of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings: 5 years, 5 months and 17 days. How much longer will she play? How important is professional golf to her now that she has a family of her own? And how driven is she to make it into the LPGA Hall of Fame?
We’ll get those answers soon enough. As always, Lydia Ko will let us know the second she gets back inside the ropes.