The massive prize money is the biggest draw for the world's top-ranked players flocking to the PIF Saudi Ladies International, the season opener of the Ladies European Tour (LET). The total purse stands at $5 million (approximately 7.3 billion won), the largest outside the five LPGA majors and the $11 million CME Group Tour Championship season finale.
The tournament, which began its first round on February 11 at Riyadh Golf Club (par 72) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, features 38 players ranked within the top 100 in the world. Five players ranked within the top 20 are competing: world No. 5 Charley Hull (England), No. 14 Rio Takeda (Japan), No. 16 Nasa Hataoka (Japan), No. 17 Choi Hye-jin, and No. 20 Andrea Lee (United States).
All 19 Korean players in the field are ranked within the top 200, with 13 of them inside the top 100. Besides Choi Hye-jin, the Korean contingent includes world No. 39 Lee So-mi, No. 40 Ryu Hyun-jo, No. 48 Hong Jung-min, No. 49 Bang Shin-sil, No. 52 Yang Hee-young, No. 63 Kim Min-sol, No. 69 Yoon I-na, No. 72 Lee Dong-eun, No. 81 Ko Ji-won, No. 94 Seo Gyo-rim, No. 97 Ma Da-som, No. 98 Jeong Yun-ji, No. 103 Park Hye-jun, No. 104 Bae So-hyun, No. 109 Kim Min-sun VII, No. 118 Kim Si-hyun, No. 139 Park Bo-kyum, and No. 197 Lee Chae-eun II.
The prize money structure is staggering. The winner takes home $750,000 (1.09 billion won). Last year's champion Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand received $675,000. While the total purse remains unchanged from last year, the winner's share increased after organizers eliminated the team competition that previously ran alongside the individual event. Only two LET players earned more than $750,000 all of last year, underscoring the significance of this single tournament's purse.
Second place pays $450,000 (650 million won), third place $300,000 (440 million won), and even 12th place earns $103,950 (150 million won). A 23rd-place finish is worth $68,950 (approximately 100 million won).
To join the prize money distribution, players must first make the cut. Only those tied for 60th place or better among the 120-player field advance to the third round. The 60th-place finisher earns $13,950 (approximately 20 million won). Tournament organizers also pay $1,000 to players who miss the cut.