Golfer Woods takes career earnings past $1.3 billion

By Gary Anderson

January 8 - World number one golfer Tiger Woods has taken his career earnings past the $1.3 billion (£790 million/€955 million) barrier according to the Golf Digest 50 Money List for 2013 which sees the American top the table for the 11th time in its 11-year history.

The magazine claims Woods earned a total of $83 million (£50 million/€61 million) last year, which was made up of $12 million (£7.3 million/€8.8 million) in prize money and $71 million (£43 million/€52 million) from endorsements and appearance fees.

The 38-year-old registered five wins on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour in 2013, including wins at the Farmers Insurance Open, World Golf Championships - Cadillac Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational and the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, which saw him pick up a winner's cheque for $1.7 million (£1.03 million/€1.25 million).

Despite a much publicised divorce from former wife Elin Nordegren following revelations of extra-marital affairs in 2009, which saw Woods dropped by a number of sponsors, Golf Digest claims the golfer, who has still got lucrative deals with companies such as Nike and Electronic Arts, has earned around $1.16 billion (£705 million/€852 million) away from the golf course since turning professional in 1996.

By comparison, Woods has earned $155 million (£94 million/€114 million) in prize money, which represents around 12 per cent of total career earnings.

Tiger Woods picked up a cheque for $1.7 million after winning the 2013 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass ©Getty Images

Woods' great rival Phil Mickelson was second on the list, earning $52 million (£32 million/€38 million) in 2013, helped by claiming his first British Open Championship and fifth career Major at Muirfield last July.

Reflecting the power of endorsement deals, 84-year-old Arnold Palmer is third on the earnings list thanks to a number of sponsorship and licensing deals helping to earn the seven-time major winner $40 million (£24 million/€29 million), while 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus,73, is fourth with just over $26 million (£16 million/€19 million).

The next current player is Sweden's Henrik Stenson, fifth on the money list with $21.5 million (£13 million/€16 million) thanks to an impressive year that saw him win the European Tour's Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour playoff title.

With $20.5 million (£12.5 million/€15 million), Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is next on the list, and despite a year that has seen the two-time major winner struggle on the golf course, with only one tournament win at the Australian Open, a deal with Nike has helped him earn $18 million (£11 million/€13 million) away from the course.

Australian Adam Scott claimed his first major title in 2013 winning the US Masters and is eighth on Golf Digest's money list ©Getty Images

Nine-time major winner Gary Player of South Africa also benefited from lucrative endorsements, with the 78-year-old banking $16 million (£9.7 million/€11.7 million) in 2013, and he was followed by Australia's Adam Scott, whose first major win at the US Masters in Augusta helped him earn just over $15.5 million (£9.4 million/€11.3 million), with $7.6 million (£4.6 million/€5.6 million) coming in estimated endorsement income.

Ernie Els of South Africa, with just over $14.5 million (£8.8 million/€10.7 million), and Australia's Greg Norman, with $14 million (£8.5 million/€10.3 million), complete the top ten.

To view the full list of 2013's top 50 earning players click here.

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