New Zealand’s sporting rich list: Ranking the highest-earning athletes
“To be honest, it’s really not on my mind. I mean, Annika had like 70-plus wins and we are just playing in a very different generation where we’re playing for so much more money,” Ko said this week.
“We had – we have the biggest payout in women’s golf at CME Tour Championship, and that all started with the Globe and becoming the championship. Our majors are stepping up. All our events, partners are stepping up and really supporting women’s golf.
“I think we all have the same vision on how we want our Tour to be. Craig [LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler] has done an incredible job of bringing different media partners and opportunities outside of just the purse.
“So it’s not really on my mind because I think it’s really not comparable. Her 70-something wins in this generation and these kind of purses she would be miles and millions ahead of us.
“Yeah, I just don’t think it’s really the same thing. For me, like winning as many as I can while I’m playing is more important than how much money I make. Even if I win the smallest purse out here, which I don’t even know which event that is, that still matters because I won an LPGA event.”
World No 1 Nelly Korda may beat Ko to the number one spot in prizemoney.
The American now sits third on the all-time list with $39,744,510, more than $11m earned already this year helped by four victories, two of which were majors.
However, Korda is not playing this week.
The season-ending CME Group Tour Championship takes place next month, where the winner takes home $7.13m. The Kiwi has won the event twice, the last time being in 2022.
Ko said she more cares about the wins and the trophies than what goes in her bank account after each tournament.
“I think sometimes we get too carried away about the money. I’m very grateful for the opportunities we have, and I think as golfers we’re very lucky because it’s one of those rare things where if we perform we get rewarded. Not all work, not all careers have that.
“So I think I’m just very grateful to be in this position and be able to excel at my job and have a great pay out days. But I just think my career versus Annika’s, it’s so different. I don’t think I’m going reach 70-something wins in the time that I’ll be playing.
“But obviously I want to win as many as I can. I’m still eager for the trophy more so than the prize.”
Ko tees off this morning in the opening round of the LOTTE Championship alongside Australian Grace Kim and Linn Grant of Sweden.