Terry Duffy, CEO and chief executive officer of the CME group, has always raised the bar in the field of women's golf. Duffy's latest statement: double the endowment of the CME Group Tour Championship 2019 to $ 5 million and bring the winner's bonus to $ 1,5 million. And even if it remains a race throughout the season to qualify for the final, all players in the top 60 will be able to win the bonus.

CME Group Tour Championship 2019 increases funding to $ 5 million

Lexi Thompson, Defending Champion 2017 - Photo: DR

"My kids see players leaving the greens with $ 1,5 million checks almost every week"said Mike Whan? LPGA delegate. “You never see a woman leaving the green with such endowments. As Condoleezza Rice told KPMG, the game has to change: “They have to see this become a reality. Terry will help close that gap. "

In the fall of 2009, Whan accepted the position of LPGA delegate and asked to start in January. That year, he was trapped in the Tour Championship in Houston, where 130 players competed for a prize of $ 1,3 million without a title sponsor.

"To sit here and talk about $ 5 million in total, $ 1,5 million for the defending champion, it's fantastic", Whan said. It's no wonder Whan refers to Duffy as one of the heroes of the LPGA.

“I want to be a leader,” said Duffy, who has taken this event from a small pro-am tournament in Tiburon to one of the mainstays of the Tour. “From our perspective, this is the reason everyone at CME has dedicated their entire career. We are a leader and we also want to be the pioneers. "

Duffy asked Whan: “What is the highest endowment on the LPGA? "

It would be the US Women's Open at $ 5 million. Duffy said he didn't want to run after a number or enter a similar competition with another tournament. However, what he wanted to accomplish was to make others think.

" It's awesome "said Brooke Henderson about staffing. “I think a lot of the girls on the Tour are going to really enjoy it. And I feel like even women all over the world are realizing that we are getting closer to equality ”.

Returning from Asia last year, Whan took a look at the number of female LPGA players who made $ 1 million over the season. 17 was a much better number than 8 in 2010. But he then searched the 2017 PGA Tour earnings list: 102 millionaires.

What is happening in Naples represents an important step. “In fact, if you're one of the best 60s, 50s, 120s in the world in your sport, at a televised level around the world, you wouldn't need a wealthy uncle to help cover the costs. of the year "said Whan. “This is an opportunity to say that financially, if I can get to Naples and play my best golf, I will be financially secure enough, not just for the current year, but also for the next. "

This week in Tiburon, only 12 players have a mathematical chance of catching the $ 1 million bonus. Next year, all 60 players will have a chance. Chella Choi likened it to winning the jackpot.

" I have a chance! " Said Choi raising his fist.

Henderson is one of five players who can automatically claim the $ 1 million prize with a win this week.

Duffy said CME's partnership with the LPGA adds value to its brand. It makes sense for him on the business side, but there is also a bigger vision at stake. For Duffy, it is also about the future of the country.

"I think it is an obligation not only as President of a large institution, but that others have the same obligation to do what is right for young people", said Duffy. “If you don't meet young people at a certain age, they come to a certain point in their life and they are lost. It is regrettable, but it is the reality. "

“That's why I want young players to see this change as an opportunity and aspire to be a part of it. This is how I see it. It's bigger than golf for me. "

To know more : http://www.cmegrouptourchampionship.com/