After the first women’s Major of the year, the Chevron Championship, it’s back to a regular LPGA Tour event this week with the Black Desert Championship.
The tournament, which had previously been on the Epson Tour, takes place at the same venue as the PGA Tour event of the same name, the Black Desert Resort in Utah. It’s a highly rated layout that features a front nine that only opened in November 2022, with the back nine opening in May 2023.
The event marks the LPGA Tour’s first tournament in Utah since 1964, and it has one of the largest purses of the season so far, with $3m available. The winner will earn $450,000, while $282,976 will be claimed by the runner-up.
As usual, world ranking points are also available, while 500 Race to the CME Globe points will be awarded to the winner.
Black Desert Championship Prize Money Payout
Who Are The Star Names In The Black Desert Championship?
Japan’s Mao Saigo claimed her maiden Major title at the Chevron Championship after emerging the winner of a thrilling five-way playoff, and she will be looking to carry that momentum into this week’s event. She’ll be joined by the four players she beat in the first extra hole at The Club at Carlton Woods, Ruoning Yin, Lindy Duncan, Ariya Jutanugarn and Hyo Joo Kim. In the absence of Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul and Lydia Ko this week, Yin is the highest-ranked player in the field in fourth.
In Jutanugarn’s case, she will be desperate to bounce back after having the Chevron Championship title within her grasp before a whiff on the 18th sent her into the playoff. Haeran Ryu and Sarah Schmelzel, who finished T6 last week, also play.
Many other Major winners are in the field too, including Ayaka Furue, Celine Boutier, Lilia Vu, Brooke Henderson and Yuka Saso.
Despite having one of the highest profiles in the game, Charley Hull has yet to claim Major honors, and there was further disappointment when she was one of the big names to to miss the cut at the Chevron Championship. She’ll be hoping to put that behind her quickly with a strong performance here as she builds towards her next opportunity, May's US Women's Open.
Where Is The Black Desert Championship?
The tournament takes place at Black Desert Resort in Utah. Despite only opening in 2023, it is already regarded as one of the best courses in the state, and evidence of that can be found in the fact that it also hosted the inaugural Black Desert Championship on the PGA Tour last year.
What Is The Payout At The Black Desert Championship?
The field competes for a share of one of the largest purses of the LPGA Tour season so far, with $3m available. The winner will receive $450,000, while $282,976 will be claimed by the runner-up.
