Player Profile: On top of their game- golf’s highest grossing sportsmen

Golfers are some of the highest paid sportsmen on the planet. This week our player profile takes a look at the top earners for the period June 2013 to June 2014, according to Forbes magazine, well-known watchdog of the rich and famous.

Despite recent injuries, Tiger Woods takes top spot once again with $61.2 million, of which $6.2 million was earned on course. The balance comes from appearance fees and endorsements for Nike.

Phil Mickelson’s perseverance has paid off this year with over $53.2 million in earnings, making him the second highest earner for 2014 and third highest paid golfer of all time. His endorsement deals with Callaway, Barclay's, KPMG, Exxon Mobil, Rolex and Amgen/Pfizer contribute $40 million to his annual paycheck.

Rory McIlroy’s winnings topped $4.3 million, plus he earned another $20 million for endorsements, making him the third highest earner during this phase. McIlroy, who started his pro career at the tender age of 22, is expected to earn well over $200 million during his career if he keeps up his current form. Titleist, FootJoy, Jumeirah Hotels and Oakley are some of his endorsement deals.

In fourth place, Henrik Stenson brought home course earnings of $8 million, plus a $10 million bonus for his victory in the FedEx cup, and $3.2 million in endorsements, bringing his total to $21.2 million for the year. This Swedish golfer has numerous sponsors including FootJoy, Jumeirah Hotels, Hugo Boss and Callaway.

The last player to make Forbes top 100 list of highest earners is Adam Scott. A lucrative deal with Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing brand, brought in $9 million of his $15.7 million total earnings. Scott has 27 wins on tours since turning pro in 2000. Originally from Australia, this accomplished player attended college in Las Vegas and now resides in Switzerland.

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