Have you ever wondered how much money golfers make compared to other athletes? They play an individual sport in which earnings are directly tied to performance. Thus, the more you win, the more you make, and the bigger the tournament, the bigger the prize. Golfers can cash in on five-figure paychecks simply for making the cut at just about any PGA Tour event, while prizes over $2 million are available for the winners of big events. For instance, the U.S. Open winner’s share is $2.25 million.
While that’s certainly a lot of prize money, the golfer with the most career earnings wouldn’t even rank among the top 100 most paid NBA players. He would rank 97th in MLB history and 27th in the NFL. For a more suitable comparison with an individual sport, the PGA all-time money leader would rank fourth out of all men’s and women’s tennis players.
But it’s not just the top breadwinner who’s cashed in, as 533 golfers in PGA Tour history have made at least $1 million in their careers. So maybe instead of getting your kid a new helmet or pair of basketball shoes, you could supply them with a set of irons or a putter? There’s still plenty of money to be made in golf, and these 30 pro golfers have done it better than anyone else.
Bottom Line: Kevin Na
John Bazemore / AP Photo
Na had an early start to his pro career, as he left high school after his junior year to play professionally at just 17 years old. At 20, he earned his PGA Tour card, but he didn’t get his first tour victory until 28 years old.
While he’s had a couple of top 10s in majors, Na is best known for playing the worst ever par-4 in PGA Tour history. At the 2011 Valero Texas Open, Na hit balls into the woods, whiffed on strokes, tried a couple of shots left-handed and even ricocheted a ball off his inner thigh on the way to shooting a 16. After the round, Na said, “I got done with the hole, and I said [to my caddie], ‘I think I made somewhere between a 10 and a 15. But I think it’s close to a 15.”
It was actually a 16.
Bottom Line: Webb Simpson
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo
James Frederick Webb Simpson turned pro in 2008, and just three years later, he finished second on the PGA Tour money list. He’d win his only major a year later at the 2012 U.S. Open, but it seems as though he peaked during this stretch. Simpson hasn’t posted a top-five finish at a major since then, and while he’s had some nice years, he hasn’t reached that next threshold that many predicted would happen.
But, of course, finishing in the top five isn’t a prerequisite for cashing in, as Simpson finished tied for 30th at the 2021 PGA Championship and still walked away with nearly $60,000, which is more than the average annual salary in the United States.
Bottom Line: Tiger Woods
Lenny Ignelzi / AP Photo
Were you expecting anyone else? Think about this: If you split Tiger Woods’ career up by decade, then his earnings in both his 20s and his 30s would make the top 10 of this list! He’s been the top money winner on tour for 10 years and has topped $10 million three different years.
Woods’ first paycheck from the PGA Tour came at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open when the 20-year-old tied for 60th and won $2,544. His single biggest paycheck came at his storybook 2019 Masters when Woods’ fifth green jacket also netted him $2.07 million. While he’s best known for his 15 major wins, the tournament that has paid Woods the most is the WGC Invitational. Woods has won the Memphis event eight times in 16 appearances and collected over $11 million alone from that event.
Woods’ unparalleled success not only gives him the most earnings but also the most earnings per event played. He’s competed in 368 tournaments in his career, which ranks just 16th on this list. He’s earned an average of $328,401 per event played, while no other golfer with more than 15 years of experience has earned more than $164,105 per event.
