Today, the 100th PGA Championship kicked off in St. Louis, Missouri. Some of the most talented golfers in the world will compete for their share of $10.5 million in purse money, and the winner will take home $1.89 million. Who is the highest paid golf player?
The world’s highest paid golf player is not only fighting for prize money, they are also competing for lucrative sponsorship and endorsement deals which can make them incredibly wealthy. According to Forbes, five of 100 highest-paid athletes in the world are golfers, and four of them are from the United States.
Here are the five highest-paid golf players in the world:
Justin ThomasGregory Shamus | Getty Images
5. Justin Thomas
Pay: $26 M
Salary/winnings: $21 M
Endorsements: $5 M
Country: United States of America
Rory McIlroy Sam Greenwood | Getty Images
4. Rory McIlroy
Pay: $37.7 M
Salary/winnings: $3.7 M
Endorsements: $34 M
Country: Northern Ireland
Jordan Spiet Harry How | Getty Images
3. Jordan Spieth
Pay: $41.2 M
Salary/winnings: $11.2 M
Endorsements: $30 M
Country: United States of America
Phil MickelsonStreeter Lecka/Getty Images
2. Phil Mickelson
Pay: $41.3 M
Salary/winnings: $4.3 M
Endorsements: $37 M
Country: United States of America
Tiger WoodsStreeter Lecka/PGA of America/Getty Images
1. Tiger Woods – the highest paid golf player till now
Pay: $43.3 M
Salary/winnings: $1.3 M
Endorsements: $42 M
Country: United States of America
Despite being raked 51st in the world golf rankings, Tiger Woods remains the highest-paid golf player in the world. But Woods didn’t make this fortune by winning titles, he earned it through endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Monster Energy and Bridgestone. According to Forbes, Woods made $43.3 million last year, and has made $1.5 billion since turning pro in 1996, but less than 10 percent of these earnings came from prize money.
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In 2017, Bridgestone Golf’s then-CEO Angel Ilagan told CNBC that Woods “actually has more power as an endorser than he does as a player.”
Close behind Woods is Phil Mickelson, who reportedly raked in $41.3 million in 2017. Mickelson, who is 48-years-old, and Woods, who is 42-years-old, are the two oldest athletes on Forbes’ list of the 100 highest-paid athletes.
Jordan Spieth is the third highest-paid golfer in the world. The 25-year-old golfer has some significant sponsorship deals himself with companies like Under Armour, Coca-Cola and Rolex.