Sports Then and Now

Even though he hasn’t won a major tournament in five years, Tiger Woods is still the richest golfer in the sport.

During 2013 we have seen a number of golfers hit the sports rich list keeping themselves amongst the world’s greatest footballer, basket ball stars and boxers. Express Golf has been through the Forbes rich list to pick out the 2013 top 5 richest golfers and a bit of background info on how they achieved these earnings.

5. Brandt Snedeker
The Nashville resident golfer Brandt Snedeker holds the fifth spot in our rankings after a great 2012 where he won the PGA Tour championship which left him at a record high world ranking position of 4 at the beginning of the year. Its estimated that his combined earnings left him with around $19m with $17m of that coming directly from tournament purses and the remainder coming from sponsorship deals.

4. Ernie Els
PGA Tour veteran Ernie Els is still keeping up his position in the rich list with an increase in the sports rich list from position 91 to 78. Ernie Els might not have collected as much in tournament purse as Snedeker but a thriving course design business as well as some high profile sponsorship deals including one with Breitling ensures that he estimated endorsement and sponsorship earnings of $16m take him above the Texan with a combined estimated earnings of $19.5m.

3. Rory McIlroy
Up to the dizzy heights of 21 in the combined sports Forbes rich list McIlroy has certainly made a improvement on last year’s position of 91. There is no doubt that the reported $250m deal with Nike over the next 10 years has had a lot to do with it. Still struggling on the course with a change of equipment meant that tournament purse earnings are still below expectations. But a combined estimated earnings of $29.6m is not bad for a player who is seen to be underachieving.

2. Phil Mickelson
For the first time we are now entering into the overall top 10 on the sports rich list and the first golfer we come across is the World Golf Hall of Fame member Phil Mickelson. Like Els on the course is not where Mickelson is picking up the majority with estimated earnings of just $5m from tournament purses. However with Mickelson undoubtedly one of the most recognised faces in world golf it’s not surprise that the sponsorship deals are lined up. With an estimated $30m coming annually from sponsorship deals including Callaway, Barclays and Rolex the combined estimated income for Mickelson is a massive $49m leaving him 7th in the rich list.

1. Tiger Woods
Now we get to the most important position and I don’t think anyone will be surprised to see this man sitting at not only the top of the golfing rich list but also top of the overall sports rich list. That man is Tiger Woods however with a estimated tournament winnings of $13m that still puts him behind Snedeker on that front. But like Els Woods has devoted time to his golf course design business which had recovered after a few blow outs as well as the massive income coming from sponsorship deals with Nike and Rolex Woods has a estimated annual income in the region of $78m.