The $4 Million Secret: 5 Shocking Takeaways From The 2025 LPGA Season And Its New Major Champions

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour has never been more competitive, lucrative, or globally diverse than it is right now in the 2025 season. This year has delivered a series of shocking upsets, historic first-time major winners, and a seismic shift in the financial landscape of women's professional golf, culminating in a record-shattering $4 million winner's check at the season-ending championship. The narrative of the Tour is no longer about a single dominant player, but a deep field of international talent rewriting the record books. As of December 2025, the LPGA is riding a wave of unprecedented momentum, with prize money totals soaring and new stars emerging from every corner of the globe. From the thrilling five-way playoff at the first major to the dramatic conclusion of the CME Group Tour Championship, the 2025 season has solidified the LPGA's position as a premier global sports league, setting new benchmarks for both performance and financial reward.

The New Global Order: 2025 LPGA Major Champions and Top Player Profiles

The 2025 season will be remembered for its parade of first-time major champions, demonstrating the incredible depth of talent on the LPGA Tour. Four of the five major championships were claimed by players earning their maiden major title, signaling a thrilling new era in women's golf.

2025 Major Championship Winners:

• The Chevron Championship: Mao Saigo (Japan)
  Saigo secured her first LPGA title and first major in a dramatic five-way playoff, becoming the fourth Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2025 season. The purse for this major was a staggering $9 million.
• KPMG Women's PGA Championship: Minjee Lee (Australia)
  The only established star to capture a major in 2025, Minjee Lee won her third career major at Fields Ranch East, proving her elite status among the world’s best. Her consistent performance across all five majors also earned her the prestigious Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
• U.S. Women's Open: Maja Stark (Sweden)
  Maja Stark claimed her maiden major title at Erin Hills, navigating the challenging course with patience and precision. Her victory cemented her place as a major contender on the global stage.
• The Amundi Evian Championship: Grace Kim (Australia)
  Grace Kim became the third consecutive player to earn her first major at Evian Resort Golf Club in 2025. Her win highlighted the rising power of Australian golf.
• AIG Women's Open: Miyu Yamashita (Japan)
  Japanese rookie Miyu Yamashita held off a late charge from Charley Hull to land her first career major at Royal Porthcawl. Yamashita was one of five rookies to win on the LPGA Tour this season.

Key Player Profiles and 2025 Achievements:

• Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand): The World No. 1 successfully defended her CME Group Tour Championship title, winning the $4 million first-place prize and breaking her own single-season money record. She also captured the 2025 Player of the Year award with three total wins.
• Nelly Korda (USA): Despite a winless season, Korda remained one of the highest-paid female athletes, leveraging significant endorsement deals alongside her competitive earnings. She finished T2 at the U.S. Women's Open.
• Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand): A consistent presence at the top of the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, Thitikul remains a cornerstone of the LPGA's global appeal.
• Charley Hull (England): A fan favorite and perennial contender, Hull was in the mix at the AIG Women's Open, demonstrating her continued challenge for a major title.
• Lydia Ko (New Zealand): Continues to be a force on the Tour, also participating in the mixed-gender Grant Thornton Invitational, showcasing her versatility.

The Money Revolution: Why The LPGA is the Richest Women's Sport

The most talked-about story of the 2025 season is the dramatic increase in prize money, with the LPGA Tour solidifying its position as home to the largest single winner's check in women's professional sports. This financial growth is a testament to the Tour's rising global viewership and corporate sponsorship.

The Jaw-Dropping $4 Million Winner's Check

The CME Group Tour Championship, the season-ending event in Naples, Florida, was the pinnacle of the financial revolution. The tournament offered an $11 million total purse, with an unprecedented $4 million awarded to the champion, Jeeno Thitikul. This figure is not only the largest winner's check in women's golf but one of the most substantial in all of professional golf, rivaling the top prizes on the PGA Tour. The massive prize money pool has a cascading effect, dramatically raising the stakes for every player and attracting the best talent globally. Even the runner-up at the CME Group Tour Championship took home a life-changing $1 million.

Major Championship Purses Explode

The financial boom extended across the five major championships, with purses reaching new heights:

• AIG Women's Open: Offered an event-record $9.75 million purse, with the winner, Miyu Yamashita, taking home $1,462,500.
• KPMG Women's PGA Championship: The total purse was reported to be around $12 million, further cementing its status as one of the most lucrative events.
• The Chevron Championship: Featured a $9 million purse, with Mao Saigo earning $1.2 million for her victory.

This escalating prize money is a key element of the LPGA's topical authority, providing a clear, measurable metric of the sport's rapid ascent.

The 2025 Rookie Class: A New Wave of Dominance

The 2025 season introduced one of the most impactful rookie classes in recent memory, with several newcomers making an immediate splash, including four first-time major winners. This infusion of young, international talent is the lifeblood of the LPGA Tour.

Rookies Who Became Major Winners

The success of the new players was undeniable, with the Tour seeing five rookie winners in total, a testament to the strength of the qualifying tours (like the Epson Tour) and the global pipeline of talent.

• Miyu Yamashita (Japan): Not only won the AIG Women's Open, but also became the fifth rookie to win on the LPGA Tour in 2025.
• Mao Saigo (Japan): Her victory at The Chevron Championship was her first LPGA title, instantly catapulting her into the elite ranks.
• Maja Stark (Sweden): The U.S. Women's Open champion has quickly established herself as a consistent threat, showing the competitive fire of the European contingent.
• Grace Kim (Australia): An exciting new face, her Amundi Evian Championship win was a breakthrough moment for the young Australian.

Other Rising Stars to Watch

The depth of the rookie class extends beyond the major winners, promising thrilling competition for years to come. Other notable emerging talents include:

• Rio Takeda (Japan): A rookie winner who has shown immense potential.
• Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden): Highly touted amateur who quickly translated her success to the professional ranks with a victory.
• Lottie Woad (England): Mentioned as a rising talent, she is part of the strong international challenge.
• Auston Kim (USA): Finished tied for second at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, marking her as a name to watch.

The LPGA's commitment to global outreach and its rapidly increasing financial rewards are creating a virtuous cycle: attracting the world's best young talent, leading to more dramatic finishes, and driving even higher viewership and sponsorship. The 2025 season has proven that the future of women's professional golf is not just bright, but a glittering gold standard for competitive sports.