Golf Digest has released its annual list of the top-50 earners in golf for 2010, and the name at the top of the list isn’t exactly a surprise. What’s shocking is the fact that he took a $48 million pay cut and still led the pack.
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In 2009, Tiger Woods earned $121.9 million from endorsements, appearance fees and on-course winnings. This year, his earnings “plummeted” to $74.2 million. Interestingly, only about $2 million of that was from his play on the course. (He also settled his divorce for a figure in the range of $100 million; his wallet is taking quite the hit these days, relatively speaking.)
Right behind Woods, in the rankings, at least? Phil Mickelson, who more than doubled Woods’ earnings on the course but earned about half off the course. Total: $40.2 million. The rest of the top 5 haven’t swung a meaningful golf swing in years, perhaps decades: Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. (The third member of that trifecta, Gary Player, comes in at No. 8.)
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Jim Furyk was the first guy to play himself into the top 10 at No. 6 and not just rely on off-course earnings; winning the $10 million Tour Championship will do that for ya. Mr. No. 1, Lee Westwood, ranks ninth.
So what does it take to get to the top 50? A mere $4.8 million. That’s what Michelle Wie earned in 2010, $4 million of which came from endorsements. Something to shoot for, everybody!
Read the full list here … and try not to cry at what some of the names on that list are earning.
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