5 golfers make Forbes' annual Top 100 list of highest paid athletes

Five golfers feature in Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest paid athletes. And there are no surprises as to who heads that list….

Tiger Woods comes in at number 16, with combined earnings of $43.3m over the last year. $1.3m came from on-course earnings, with the lion’s share of $42m in endorsements. Not bad work, considering Tiger played so little competitive golf last year, but a testament to his continued appeal to sponsors - despite everything.

Phil Mickelson is in 22nd place and the number 2 highest earning golfer with $41.3m in earnings, again split $4.3m/$37m from on and off course activity.

Then it’s Jordan Spieth’s turn at number 23, with earnings of $41.2m, split $11.2m/$30m, which shows he was bringing in the bacon on the course as well as off it.

Next up is Rory McIlroy who earned $37.5m over the last year, with $3.7m in on-course earnings and $34m in endorsements. 

The final golfer to make it into the Top 100 is the current world No 1, Justin Thomas. He earned $21m on the course and approximately $5m off it to bring home a total of $26 million. Despite his number 1 position, he still cannot command the off-course earnings of the likes of Tiger and Phil, but that might change in time. 

Missing the Top 100 cut were world No 2 Dustin Johnson, No 7 Rickie Fowler and No 8 Jason Day. Better get your skates on chaps. 

You might also like:

GolfPunk Magazine Issue 2: Read FREE here!!