Consideration Applied to KLPGA Championship: "Lowest Prize Money and MDF System"

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Total Prize Money of 3 Billion KRW Distributed Among All 150 Participants, Last Place Also Receives 6.25 Million KRW

This is a scene from the first major KLPGA Championship of the season held last April.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] '6,246,667 won.'

On the 14th, at Lakewood Golf Course in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,540 yards), the lowest prize money of 6,246,667 won for 150th place is set for the first major KLPGA Championship (total prize money 3 billion won) of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. This is a consideration for players facing economic difficulties due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Generally, only players who enter the top 60 ties after the second round receive prize money. The winner's prize money is 20% of the total prize money.

Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) won last year and took home 200 million won, which is 20% of the total prize money of 1 billion won. Although the total prize money has tripled this year, she receives 220 million won, which is 7.3%. This tournament is a true practice of sharing. The prize money rate decided this time allows all participating players to receive prize money. Players who enter the 'Top 10' have their prize money adjusted to be slightly larger than other ranks. The 10th place receives 30 million won, which is 1% of the total prize money.

The 11th place receives 28.59 million won, about 1.4 million won less than the 10th place. From 11th to 70th place, the difference is 180,000 won each rank; from 71st to 102nd place, 150,000 won; and from 103rd to 150th place, 90,000 won difference per rank. The MDF (Made cut, Did not Finish) system, applied in some PGA Tour events, has been introduced for the first time in the KLPGA Tour. This means all participating players pass the cut but do not necessarily finish the tournament.

According to the results of the 1st and 2nd rounds, players tied up to 102nd place proceed to the next round. Among those advancing to the 3rd round, players tied up to 70th place compete on the final day. Players receive prize money unless disqualified or withdrawn. Of course, this is reflected in the 2020 KLPGA Tour prize money rankings. This tournament is the first tour held immediately after COVID-19, attracting attention from the global golf community. It is held without spectators, and thorough quarantine measures are in place, including the introduction of walk-through sterilizers.

Questionnaires and temperature checks, maintaining a 2-meter distance between players, prohibition of handshakes, provision of disinfectant sprays for personal equipment, and mandatory mask-wearing before tee-off and immediately after rounds are enforced. Defending champion Choi Hye-jin, 2018 winner Jang Ha-na (28, BC Card), last December’s 2020 season opener Hyosung Championship champion Lee Da-yeon (23, Mediheal), world No. 3 Park Sung-hyun (27), LPGA Rookie of the Year Lee Jeong-eun6 (24, Daebang Construction), Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset), and Lee Bo-mi (32) are all participating.