FedEx Cup Finances: A Closer Look

With the FedEx Cup playoffs well underway, the financial benefits are often discussed – as the prize fund has risen from $10 million to $18 million in a short space of time. Using Tiger Woods’ 2007 win as a case study, the pay-outs to the winners and participants after the season finale at East Lake are detailed below.

Tiger Woods – 2007

When Tiger Woods dominated the field (again) to win the FedEx in 2007, his $10 million in prize money isn’t as simple as you may think.

The winnings were placed in a tax-deferred retirement account, stipulating that at age 45, Tiger was eligible for monthly payments over 5 years. Some basic calculations show that the original investment could net up to $39 million in the following 14 years.

What if he never stopped winning?

The organizers then hit a mental (possibly mathematical) roadblock, what if Tiger kept winning everything? What if he bagged a further handful of FedEx Cup wins? Well, his retirement account could be worth up to a billion dollars.

Tiger’s career win-rate as a pro:
▶️23%

Chances the typical PGA Tour pro makes a 15-foot putt:
▶️22%

🐐🐐🐐🐐

— Lou Stagner (Golf Stat Pro) (@LouStagner) August 22, 2022

As unfeasible as this may sound, this was a man who had won 14 majors in 10 years, with a win percentage in his career loitering around 1 in 4 events. Tiger also had a 32-round stretch in 2006/2007, where he beat the rest of the field by an average of 4.7 shots per round.

Tiger had 32-round stretch in 2006/2007 where he beat the field by an average of 4.7 shots per round.

Tiger was nearly 5 shots better than the average tour player during that run. 🤯

Next-level GOAT.

🐐🐐🐐

— Lou Stagner (Golf Stat Pro) (@LouStagner) August 24, 2022

Just in case, in 2008 the PGA switched the compensation formula. $1 million was placed in the retirement account, and $9 million paid in cash.

Today’s Numbers

In 2022, the winner is set to make $18 million, $17m upfront, with $1 million sat in the retirement account. That initial investment could climb up another couple of million in the background over the next decade, as well as the obvious potential returns of an eight-figure payout. Second place nets $6.5m total, with third securing $5m.

Tiger Woods won $10 million in the 2007 FedEx Cup Playoffs.

But he wouldn’t be able to touch that money for 14 years.

Here is the breakdown:

— Jared Doerfler (@DoerflerJared) August 25, 2022

A final stat before the FedEx finale approaches: Tiger Woods has won enough in FedEx Cup playoffs alone ($28 million) to be ranked 51st on the all-time PGA Tour Career Money List.

Statistics Credit to: Jared Doerfler @Perfect Putt

Cover Image Via CBSSports