Who Got the Most Coin – 2014 PGA TOUR Top Money Earners List

While some of the names have changed spots from last year’s list, we still find the same old faces on our coveted list of the PGA TOUR’s Top Money Earners List, with significant earnings coming from both on and off the course.  It’s amazing how this game works: make top ten’s, win tournaments, and the endorsements and checks will fall into your lap.  Sounds easy right?

This year FedExCup stars and major event winners like Bubba Watson and Billy Horschel find themselves in the spotlight with their exceptional tournament performances.  With new coastline homes, hot girlfriends, flashy new cars, and healthy bank accounts, it’s safe to say these guys are living the dream while playing a game we wish we could play at half their level.

But winning on the course is not the only thing that matters.  Golf legends who put down their sticks years ago still see endorsement deals and course designs fill up the well every year.

It’s also worth noting that Tiger Woods ended the year with only $55 million in combined (on and off the course) earnings which was his worst year since 2000(do we smell a golf recession coming on?).  55 million bucks is not bad for your ‘worst’ year, huh?

Here’s the list of the PGA TOUR’s top ten money earners for 2014, enjoy.

10. Bubba Watson

On-Course: $9,361,978, Off-Course: $5,750,000, Total: $15,111,978

As crazy and loud as Bubba can get both on and off the course, he’s constantly in the social media eye, and most of the time he’s doing exceptional charitable work and having fun with it.  It’s personalities like this that keep sponsors like PING, Oakley, and various others latched on for life.  With two wins, three runner-ups, and a third place finish in 2014, you can bet that Bubba had a pretty solid year financially—and he’s already off to a great start in 2015.  Look out for a third Green Jacket from this guy.

9. Adam Scott

On-Course: $5,756,141, Off-Course: $9,500,000, Total: $15,256,141

Adam had a couple of wins in the wrap-around season and when you make 17 cuts in 17 events played, chances are your wallet will be quite full by the end of the season.  Although Scott finished a disappointing 14^th in his title defense at Augusta in 2014 we’re sure he will continue to be a force in all the majors for next few years.

8. Sergio Garcia

On-Course: $7,347,235, Off-Course: $8,500,000, Total: $15,847,235

Sergio can still get it done on the course.  The 35-year old combined for some decent on-course earnings on both the PGA and European Tours in 2014, complete with with two Top 3s in the majors.  He’s lost some endorsement deals along the way, but Garcia has managed to move up the list by three spots this year as he continues to find his way up the leaderboards.

7. Justin Rose

On-Course: $7,228,816, Off-Course: $11,000,000, Total: $18,228,816

Rose jumped up five spots on this year’s money earners list with a decent on-course showing that earned him some nice dough.  His consistent play and charity work continues to make him a marketable player to sponsors everywhere.  Justin also stays present in the media and in front of his fans by constantly posting on social media and he remains one of the poster boys for TaylorMade Golf.

6. Billy Horschel

On-Course: $15,549,691, Off-Course: $2,750,000, Total: $18,299,691

What a year it has been for Billy Horschel.  He missed the cut at the Barclays, choked in round 2 of the playoffs at the DB Championship (T2) where it was his event to win, then came back and won the BMW and TOUR Championships to take the 2014 FedExCup.  He earned most of his coin in those last three events and went on to have his first baby a few days after.  Needless to say, Billy Ho was on top of the world in 2014.

5. Jack Nicklaus

On-Course: $47,250, Off-Course: $22,000,000, Total: $22,047,250

Like Arnie, Jack earned most of his coin off the course, which again is no surprise since he hung the spikes up a while ago.  The Golden Bear is still very active in golf course design which earned him most of his paychecks in 2014.  Jack is still the leader in the category of Most Majors and by the looks of Tiger’s current game, it could end up that way, that is until a well-known young Irishman makes his push over the next decade.

4. Arnold Palmer

On-Course: $0, Off-Course: $40,000,000, Total: $40,000,000

Even at age 85, Arnold Palmer continues to rake in the big bucks from his endorsements, business ventures, and golf courses.  The King is the King for a reason; he’s endorsed more products than any other QVC or Home Shopping Network millionaire.  From Arnold Palmer Ice Tea to the beautiful Bay Hill Golf Course, Palmer has set up quite the legacy to leave behind to his heirs.  We hope to see Arnie teeing it up for many more years to come at the annual Par 3 event at Augusta National.

3. Rory McIlroy

On-Course: $14,183,976, Off-Course: $35,000,000, Total: $49,183,946

Rory was the hottest and most accomplished player on TOUR in 2014 and is currently a clear favorite to win every major in 2015.  He recently posted a photo on Instagram with a view of the water from his newly purchased Ireland coastline home with a caption, “Anyone want to go for a swim?”  The young stud will be collecting from Nike for what seems like an eternity, and no one knows how many more majors and events he will win over his career.  With Tiger’s recent decline, Rory can easily jump into the top spot on this list next year for sure.

2. Phil Mickelson

On-Course: $2,238,019, Off-Course: $48,500,000, Total: $50,738,019

Phil is arguably one of the top fan favorites that will go down in history with Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Norman, and even Woods.  When he’s done on the PGA TOUR his game is sure to make the transition onto to the senior TOUR where he will continue to dominate the “old folks” and clean up on his long term KPMG, Barclays, and Callaway endorsements.  Mickelson had a tough, winless year in 2014 but managed to notch a second place finish in a major and ten total Top 25 finishes on the season.

1. Tiger Woods

On-Course: $508,275, Off-Course: $54,500,000, Total: $55,008,275

Riddled by injury, the once most feared competitor in the game had the least productive season he’s seen on the course his entire career.  Even in his rookie season Tiger earned $894,060 on the course.  The injuries cost him not only a hefty year-end appearance bonus in Asia (which pays him handsomely) but also his pride, confidence, titles, and a chance at to win some more majors.  Regardless, Woods still made more money than any other pro-golfer in 2014, but someday we may see the No. 3 man on our list take over this coveted No. 1 spot.  Either way, look for Tiger to continue to bring in the big bucks for years to come, just like his predecessors, Nicklaus and Palmer.

Cover Photo by Keith Allison on Flickr

H/T to PGA TOUR, Golf Digest, and Golf Channel for estimated monetary figures.