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The 25 Highest-Paid Professional Golfers

  • Nine LIV golfers are among the highest-paid golfers.
  • Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Dustin Johnson are the only golfers to earn over $150 million.
Jun 14, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; Tiger Woods hits on the 2nd hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, a new opportunity has arisen. Now, numerous golfers including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and Jon Rahm are playing in both PGA Tour and LIV Golf events, greatly boosting their total career earnings.

The sport is in the midst of foundational changes as the PGA-LIV merger lingers and NIL gives new sponsorship opportunities to college golfers.

But one constant has been Tiger Woods, who’s earned $185.7 million to remain the highest-paid professional golfer. Although he hasn’t won a major championship since 2019, Woods has earned at least $11 million more in career earnings than any other golfer.

He’s also earned the most from his 15 major championships, having made $28.2 million from them. 

Dustin Johnson is third with $164.6 million in career earnings but has earned the most from LIV with $52.1 million. Johnson announced his resignation from the PGA Tour in 2022 to compete in the LIV Golf Series full-time.

The two-time major champion winner will hope for a breakthrough in the merger talks between PGA and LIV to be allowed to participate in PGA tour events again.

Only the top eight highest-paid professional golfers have made over $100 million in career earnings. 

Scottie Scheffler, earning $111.4 million for fifth, has already made $62 million in prize money this year. His dominance as the number one ranked golfer has some questioning whether he’s to blame for golf’s slump in ratings, while others point the finger at the PGA-LIV drama. 

Nine golfers from the LIV Golf series are among the highest-paid golfers in the world.

Cameron Smith is the only golfer who has made more in career earnings from LIV than PGA. He has earned $38.96 million with LIV since joining in August of 2022 compared to $34 million from his time with the PGA.

Ranking The Highest-Paid Golfers in the World

Here is the full list of the top 25 highest-paid professional golfers by their total career earnings between PGA, LIV, and bonuses. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.

  • Updated: December 13, 2024
RankPlayerPGA & Majors EarningsLIV EarningsTotal Earnings
1Tiger Woods$185.7 million$185.7 million
2Rory McIlroy$174.5 million$174.5 million
3Dustin Johnson$97 million$52.1 million$164.6 million
4Phil Mickelson$105.8 million$6 million$136.95 million
5Scottie Scheffler$109.3 million$111.4 million
6Brooks Koepka$50 million$39 million$110.98 million
7Jon Rahm$77 million$19.8 million$107.3 million
8Xander Schauffele$86 million$101.2 million
9Sergio Garcia$56 million$28.3 million$96.8 million
10Justin Thomas$87 million$95.5 million
11Jordan Spieth$80 million$95.1 million
12Adam Scott$74 million$87.3 million
13Jim Furyk$76 million$86.6 million
14Vijay Singh$74 million$82.7 million
15Cameron Smith$34 million$38.96 million$82.1 million
16Justin Rose$67 million$82.07 million
17Bryson DeChambeau$40 million$26.9 million$80.1 million
18Patrick Cantlay$74 million$79.5 million
19Jason Day$66 million$78.8 million
20Patrick Reed$42.4 million$25.97 million$75.8 million
21Matt Kuchar$66 million$73.1 million
22Hideki Matsuyama$61 million$69.7 million
23Bubba Watson$55 million$7 million$68.5 million
24Rickie Fowler$58 million$68.1 million
25Ernie Els$52 million$66.7 million

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