Hutchinson ? Bad news for the rest of the world’s women golfers: The United States Golf Assn. gave Karrie Webb another reason to win the U.S. Open.

The USGA announced during media day Monday at Prairie Dunes Country Club that the purse for the July 4-7 major championship had been increased by $100,000 to $3 million.

“This is the largest purse for any women’s golf event in the entire world  largest by a big margin, I might add,” said USGA women’s committee chair Cora Jane Blanchard.

Webb already has plenty of incentive to win the Open. The two-time defending champion has had temporary custody of the trophy since claiming a five-stroke victory over Christie Kerr and Meg Mallon in 2000 at The Merit Club in Gurnee, Ill. The Australian earned the right to keep the Semple Cup for another year after posting an eight-stroke victory over Se Ri Pak last summer at Pine Needles Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

Seven golfers have won back-to-back U.S. Opens, but no one has ever won three straight.

“I’m excited to come back here in 10 weeks and hopefully have a chance to hold the trophy up three years in a row,” Webb said. “That would be a great dream of mine come true if it happens.”

Another change announced by the USGA on Monday will make the field even tougher. Instead of the one-day, 18-hole rounds that have been used in the past, qualifying has been expanded. Golfers hoping to qualify will have to win a local 18-hole event before advancing to a 36-hole sectional.

“It’s the best move the USGA has made since I’ve been playing the U.S. Open  apart from raising the purse,” quipped Webb, who earned $500,000 for her victory in 2000 and $520,000 last year. The winner’s share jumps to $535,000 this summer.

Webb said that two years ago at Pine Needles she endured an hour wait to tee off on No. 5 during the first round because of a slow group playing ahead of her.

“It discourages that person that’s like, ‘Well, I don’t think I’ll ever qualify for the U.S. Open, but it’s only one round so what the heck?'” she said of the new format. “Then they go out and play the round of their lives and get to play in the U.S. Open. Then come the U.S. Open, they shoot mid-80s, high 80s  hopefully not 90s, but in some cases, and it just adds to the slowness of play. There’s probably 10 people in every U.S. Open field that probably shouldn’t be there.”

For the record, 57 players have earned exempt status for this year’s Open. The remainder of the 150-woman field will earn spots in qualifying tournaments.

Who’s exempt?

 Open winners in the last 10 years.

 Winners of the LPGA Championship, British Open or Kraft Nabisco Championship in the last five years.

 Winners of the U.S. Women’s Amateur in the last two years.

 Top 40 LPGA money winners from 2001 and the top 35 money winners through the close of entries on May 1.

 Twenty lowest scorers from last year’s U.S. Open.

 Winners of LPGA events between last year’s Open and this year’s event.

 Playing members of the 2002 U.S. Curtis Cup team.

 Top three players from 2001 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.

 Top two money winners from 2001 Japan LPGA Tour.

 Special exemptions selected by USGA.

Nancy Lopez became the 57th exempt player on Monday when the USGA awarded the Hall of Famer a special exemption. Lopez, 45, announced earlier this year that she would scale back her schedule after this season.

“We felt it was the appropriate time to say thank you,” Blanchard said. “Thank you for bringing those fans out. Without Nancy and her fans, we wouldn’t have a $3 million purse. Without Nancy and without her fans, we would not be issued invitations to prestigious courses like Prairie Dunes.”

Lopez has won 48 LPGA events and is a four-time U.S. Open runner-up.

“She accepted,” Blanchard said of Lopez’s exemption. “She’s thrilled.”