As the inaugural WTGL season debuts with an $11 million prize purse, $10 million less than the men's $21 million TGL, and officials align the payout with women's majors

TGL defended its decision to offer $10 million less in prize money for the first season of WTGL compared to the men's league.

Front Office Sports reported that WTGL’s inaugural season will feature an $11 million prize purse. TGL has defended this payout after the first two seasons of TGL offered the men $21 million in prize money.

The new women’s indoor team golf league, created after the men’s TGL co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will debut its first match November 8th. WTGL comprises five teams of five players, totaling 25 golfers, with three members per team competing in every match.

“The total purse will be $11 million and aligns with the major championships in women’s golf,” a spokesperson for WTGL told FOS. “Individual player payouts will be tied to team finish and player participation. The breakdown of player payouts will be provided at a later date.”

During its first two seasons, TGL awarded $21 million in prize money. The prize gap between TGL and WTGL mirrors the divide found in major championship golf.

In 2026, prize purses averaged $20.81 million across the four men's major championships, whereas the five women's majors averaged $10.72 million. This disparity in payouts emerges even as WTGL players have expressed hope for a unified league structure that incorporates both men and women on shared teams.

“I have mixed feelings on it if I'm being very honest,” Korda told Golfweek ahead of the LPGA’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

“And I'm surprised no other girls have, or no one's really spoken out about it. I think it's a huge and unbelievable miss that we're not playing alongside the men. There's no greater way to grow the game, and it would have been revolutionary.

“It would have been the first time, I think, that men and women are on the same playing field, playing for the same exact amount of money. But I also think it's great that we are getting this opportunity, so that's my mixed feelings.”

The new team league secured commitments from prominent LPGA stars, including world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, LPGA Hall of Fame member Lydia Ko, Canada's top winning golfer Brooke Henderson, major winner Lexi Thompson, and three-time champion Charley Hull. The league confirmed that Rose Zhang and Lottie Woad have also joined the roster.

McIlroy also believes the separation is good for the sport, as it allows women to gain more fans and traction in the game.