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The Golf Digest 50

Golf's Top Earners

Off-course endorsements require more time and effort from players, but many are still doing quite well

By Ron Sirak

February 2012

Scroll down to view the complete Golf Digest 50 ↓

How we did it: On-course income includes all money earned on the PGA Tour and the five international tours (Japan PGA, PGA European, Australasian, Southern Africa, Asian) and the Champions Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and the Japan LPGA. It also includes unofficial money won through Dec. 11 in non-tour events.

Off-course income includes estimates of all money earned from endorsements, bonuses, appearance fees, corporate outings, speaking engagements, licensing fees (video games, trading cards, etc.), course architecture, books, instructional videos and businesses that capitalize on a person's status as a player, such as product lines including clothing, wine and turfgrass.

Investment income is not included.

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1. Tiger Woods

SKINNY: Because of injury and scandal, down 50% from the $122 million he earned in 2009 but still the leader for all nine years of the GD 50.
2011 RANK: 1 ON COURSE: $2,067,059 OFF COURSE: $62,000,000 TOTAL: $64,067,059
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1. Tiger Woods

2011 RANK: 1 | ON COURSE: $2,067,059 | OFF COURSE: $62,000,000 | TOTAL: $64,067,059

2. Phil Mickelson

2011 RANK: 2 | ON COURSE: $3,991,564 | OFF COURSE: $38,000,000 | TOTAL: $41,991,564

3. Arnold Palmer

2011 RANK: 3 | ON COURSE: $0 | OFF COURSE: $36,000,000 | TOTAL: $36,000,000

4. Jack Nicklaus

2011 RANK: 5 | ON COURSE: $155,000 | OFF COURSE: $28,800,000 | TOTAL: $28,955,000

5. Greg Norman

2011 RANK: 4 | ON COURSE: $75,118 | OFF COURSE: $22,750,000 | TOTAL: $22,825,118

6. Luke Donald

2011 RANK: 10 | ON COURSE: $13,183,497 | OFF COURSE: $8,500,000 | TOTAL: $21,683,497

7. Ernie Els

2011 RANK: 7 | ON COURSE: $1,409,442 | OFF COURSE: $17,000,000 | TOTAL: $18,409,442

8. Gary Player

2011 RANK: 8 | ON COURSE: $14,486 | OFF COURSE: $16,000,000 | TOTAL: $16,014,486

9. Sergio Garcia

2011 RANK: 11 | ON COURSE: $3,601,441 | OFF COURSE: $12,250,000 | TOTAL: $15,851,441

10. Bill Haas

2011 RANK: NR* | ON COURSE: $14,354,785 | OFF COURSE: $1,000,000 | TOTAL: $15,354,785

11. Rory McIlroy

2011 RANK: 24 | ON COURSE: $8,174,832 | OFF COURSE: $5,900,000 | TOTAL: $14,074,832

12. Lee Westwood

2011 RANK: 9 | ON COURSE: $5,062,181 | OFF COURSE: $7,100,000 | TOTAL: $12,162,181

13. K.J. Choi

2011 RANK: 33 | ON COURSE: $5,210,147 | OFF COURSE: $6,000,000 | TOTAL: $11,210,147

14. Adam Scott

2011 RANK: 20 | ON COURSE: $4,336,919 | OFF COURSE: $6,500,000 | TOTAL: $10,836,919

15. Matt Kuchar

2011 RANK: 1 | ON COURSE: $6,724,343 | OFF COURSE: $4,000,000 | TOTAL: $10,724,343

16. Webb Simpson

2011 RANK: NR* | ON COURSE: $9,567,934 | OFF COURSE: $650,000 TOTAL: $10,217,934

17. Dustin Johnson

2011 RANK: 28 | ON COURSE: $5,965,559 | OFF COURSE: $3,950,000 | TOTAL: $9,915,559

18. Padraig Harrington

2011 RANK: 12 | ON COURSE: $1,299,425 | OFF COURSE: $8,500,000 | TOTAL: $9,799,425

19. Ryo Ishikawa

2011 RANK: 26 | ON COURSE: $1,598,444 | OFF COURSE: $8,000,000 | TOTAL: $9,598,444

20. Darren Clarke

2011 RANK: NR* | ON COURSE: $2,541,194 | OFF COURSE: $6,250,000 | TOTAL: $8,791,194

21. Graeme McDowell

2011 RANK: 14 | ON COURSE: $3,086,977 | OFF COURSE: $5,700,000 | TOTAL: $8,786,977

22. Jim Furyk

2011 RANK: 6 | ON COURSE: $1,954,099 | OFF COURSE: $6,750,000 | TOTAL: $8,704,099

23. Nick Watney

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $6,080,052 | OFF COURSE: $2,400,000 | TOTAL: $8,480,052

24. Davis Love III

2011 RANK: 19 | ON COURSE: $1,212,219 | OFF COURSE: $7,250,000 | TOTAL: $8,462,219

25. Tom Watson

2011 RANK: 31 | ON COURSE: $1,033,234 | OFF COURSE: $7,350,000 | TOTAL: $8,383,234

26. Keegan Bradley

2011 RANK: NR* | ON COURSE: $5,240,318 | OFF COURSE: $3,100,000 | TOTAL: $8,340,318

27. Justin Rose

2011 RANK: 32 | ON COURSE: $5,294,883 | OFF COURSE: $3,000,000 | TOTAL: $8,294,883

28. Hunter Mahan

2011 RANK: 30 | ON COURSE: $4,875,633 | OFF COURSE: $3,250,000 | TOTAL: $8,125,633

29. Steve Stricker

2011 RANK: 22 | ON COURSE: $4,474,163 | OFF COURSE: $3,600,000 | TOTAL: $8,074,163

30. Charl Schwartzel

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $5,241,615 | OFF COURSE: $2,450,000 | TOTAL: $7,691,615

31. David Toms

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $4,200,220 | OFF COURSE: $3,400,000 | TOTAL:$7,600,220

32. Martin Kaymer

2011 RANK: 16 | ON COURSE: $5,175,564 | OFF COURSE: $2,300,000 | TOTAL: $7,475,564

33. Fred Couples

2011 RANK: 17 | ON COURSE: $1,654,809 | OFF COURSE: $5,750,000 | TOTAL: $7,404,809

34. Nick Faldo

2011 RANK: 29 | ON COURSE: $84,000 | OFF COURSE: $7,250,000 | TOTAL: $7,334,000

35. Colin Montgomerie

2011 RANK: 36 | ON COURSE: $435,615 | OFF COURSE: $6,500,000 | TOTAL: $6,935,615

36. Camilo Villegas

2011 RANK: 13 | ON COURSE: $1,846,484 | OFF COURSE: $5,000,000 | TOTAL: $6,846,484

37. Vijay Singh

2011 RANK: 48 | ON COURSE: $2,731,050 | OFF COURSE: $3,850,000 | TOTAL: $6,581,050

38. Ian Poulter

2011 RANK: 18 | ON COURSE: $2,601,788 | OFF COURSE: $3,800,000 | TOTAL: $6,401,788

39. Zach Johnson

2011 RANK: 25 | ON COURSE: $2,971,487 | OFF COURSE: $3,350,000 | TOTAL: $6,321,487

40. Bubba Watson

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $3,965,805 | OFF COURSE: $2,300,000 | TOTAL: $6,265,805

41. Jason Day

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $4,483,699 | OFF COURSE: $1,750,000 | TOTAL: $6,233,699

42. Retief Goosen

2011 RANK: 27 | ON COURSE: $1,574,039 | OFF COURSE: $4,650,000 | TOTAL: $6,224,039

43. Miguel A. Jimenez

2011 RANK: 43 | ON COURSE: $2,161,290 | OFF COURSE: $3,750,000 | TOTAL: $5,911,290

44. Y.E. Yang

2011 RANK: 42 | ON COURSE: $2,861,591 | OFF COURSE: $3,000,000 | TOTAL: $5,861,591

45. Brandt Snedeker

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $4,476,909 | OFF COURSE: $1,350,000 | TOTAL: $5,826,909

46. Yani Tseng

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $3,521,713 | OFF COURSE: $2,250,000 | TOTAL: $5,771,713

47. Aaron Baddeley

2011 RANK: NR | ON COURSE: $3,591,105 | OFF COURSE: $2,050,000 | TOTAL: $5,641,105

48. Annika Sorenstam

2011 RANK: 39 | ON COURSE: $80,500 | OFF COURSE: $5,550,000 | TOTAL: $5,630,500

49. Anthony Kim

2011 RANK: 23 | ON COURSE: $2,346,842 | OFF COURSE: $3,250,000 | TOTAL: $5,596,842

50. Paula Creamer

2011 RANK: 41 | ON COURSE: $1,016,338 | OFF COURSE: $4,500,000 | TOTAL: $5,516,338

NR: Not ranked among the Golf Digest 50 in February 2011.
SOURCES: Figures for the list were compiled through Golf Digest interviews with agents, players, executives of companies involved with endorsements, industry analysts and through the official money lists of the professional tours.