The AIG Women’s Open, now in its 50th year since first launching, has seen major growth in both participation and prize money, according to multiple reports. When the tournament began, the field was largely made up of amateurs, and total prize money for the entire event was about £500. Over subsequent decades, the competition develops into a major international women’s golf tournament with a far larger professional field. The prize fund has also increased substantially, reaching £1.25 million in the current era, reflecting the event’s expansion and greater financial backing. Sources describe the change as a striking transformation from a modest, amateur-dominated competition into a high-profile tournament with a significantly larger purse for players. The reporting focuses on the contrast between the early version of the event and today’s prize levels, with the figures £500 and £1.25m presented as key markers of that long-term growth.