Tiger Woods’ career earnings top US$1,3bn

LOS ANGELES. – World number one golfer Tiger Woods has cracked US$1,3 billion in career earnings by leading the Golf Digest 50 with US$83 million in income last year, the magazine reported on its website on Tuesday. Woods, a 14-time major champion, topped the list for the 11th time in its 11-year history with US$83 091 508, including an estimated US$71 million off the course and more than US$12 million in prize money.

The story says Woods’ winnings of more than US$155 million reflect less than 12 percent of his career earnings, with US$1,16 billion coming from endorsements since his pro debut in 1996, a figure that continues to increase even in the wake of an infamous sex scandal and ensuing divorce.

A Woods deal with Electronic Arts involving a golf video game ended at the conclusion of 2013 and, while he has not approached pre-scandal endorsement totals above US$100 million a year, he has bounced back from a 2011 low of US$62 million in endorsement income.

Second on the Golf Digest list for 2013 income was Phil Mickelson at US$52 009 156, with an estimated US$45 million in endorsements and other non-prize money income.

The US left-hander won last year’s British Open and hopes to complete a career Grand Slam by winning this year’s US Open, an event where he is a record six-time runner-up.

Arnold Palmer, the 84-year-old golf icon whose popularity helped spawn the television riches of today’s players, was third at US$40 million, largely from licensing deals in Asia.

Jack Nicklaus, who turns 74 on January 21, ranked fourth at just over US$26 million. The record 18-time major champion joins Palmer and Gary Player for the annual honorary tee shots that mark the start of the Masters each year.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who won the US PGA Tour playoff crown and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, was fifth at US$21 444 670, with all but an estimated US$2,85 million in off-course income from his prize money.

Despite a year with only one title, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was sixth on US$20 608 789, with US$18 million in endorsement deals including a new one with Nike for equipment that helped sting a season of struggles in which his only win came at the Australian Open.
South African legend Player (78) was seventh at just over US$16 million.  -AFP.