Wie earns less than $10,000 in prize money but makes $12.5m in 2007

Published on Friday 11 January 2008 21:25

GOLF'S richest exponents last year earned more off the course from sponsorship deals, bonuses, appearance fees, course architecture projects and business interests than they did from winning tournaments, according to the latest Golf Digest survey of the game's 50 highest earners.

While Arnold Palmer ($29.5million) and Jack Nicklaus (nearly $21m) have long made their fortune without having to grip a club in their hands, the most extreme divergence between on-course income and off course in the men's game was epitomised in 2007 by Greg Norman, 52, who won just $6,028 from tournaments, but banked $24million from golf-related business.

In the women's game – and at the other end of the age spectrum – Michelle Wie, 18, suffered a dreadful season in competition, winning a meagre $9,899. However, her lucrative sponsorship deals were worth $12.5m and she earned almost twice as much as Lorena Ochoa, the world No 1, who enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in women's golfing history.

Other golfers whose success in 2007 was based on personality rather than performance were John Daly and Annika Sorenstam. Daly earned $448,132, nowhere close to the amount required to retain a card on the US PGA Tour. However, the former Open champion's popularity with the public was reflected in off-course earnings in excess of $9.2m. Similarly, Sorenstam, the former world No 1, went through a fallow period by her standards last year, earning $584,789 from playing. However, her reputation remained high enough to accrue $9.5m from business activities.

Tiger Woods, well on his way to becoming the first billionaire in sport, made more than twice as much as anyone from hitting a golf ball, nearly $23m. However, the marketability of the world's most high-profile sportsman was reflected in earnings related to his status as a golfer of $99.8m.

Woods' income of nearly $123m was the most lucrative season of his career and the first time his total had exceeded $100m. On the course, he made twice as much as he did in 2006 and, off the links, his earnings rose by more than $12m.

Since turning professional in 1996, Woods has stretched the boundaries of professional golf, both as a sport and a business. Over 12 seasons, the American has won $100,890,709. Those earnings, however, are dwarfed by sponsorship deals which have raised $668,550,00. All told, Woods, still only 32, has made $769,440,709.

One of the reasons golfers can enhance their income away from playing the game is the rewarding business of international course design.

Although he did not enjoy his best season last year – the highlights were victories in the European Open and the World Cup – Colin Montgomerie remained Britain's most successful player, partly because of his success as a course architect. Monty moved up a spot from 15th to 14th in the rich list thanks to on-course earnings of $3,246,782 and off-course income of $7,650,000. The only Europeans who earned more than the Scot were Sergio Garcia, in seventh place with $19m, and Open champion Padraig Harrington in 10th spot with more than $14m.

"Right now, I have about 15 (courses] up and running worldwide and there are 20 under construction," said Montgomerie. "Finding time to play golf is a bit of a problem. Maybe that's why I'm 59th in the world. It's been a very busy time over the past four or five years getting this business up and running. But when I finish playing golf, I can move into this side of things without facing a three or four-year gap of wondering what to do. The courses are all over the world, from Korea to the Dominican Republic and from Turkey to Russia. It takes time, but I've enjoyed putting something back."

Asked what he thought of the rewards on offer to golfers, Monty added: "If you look at the earnings of Roger Federer (the world No 1 tennis player] and compare them with Tiger Woods, you'll see Tiger is double Federer. Now tennis players are also well paid, so we do very well. Golfers are well paid and that proves spectators, TV and sponsors like the game. We're very fortunate."

The other Europeans in world golf's rich list are Justin Rose, 21st with $8.9m, Lee Westwood, 24th with $7.2m, Luke Donald, 31st with $6.2m, Nick Faldo, 38th with $5.5m, Ian Poulter, 39th with $5.4m, and Paul Casey, 47th with $4.5m.