(Reuters) – The following is a list of the highest paid golfers in the world in 2023, according to Forbes.
The tournament earnings figures include prize money and bonuses in the last 12 months, while other earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, licensing income and cash returns from businesses they operate.
Dustin Johnson – $107 million
American Dustin Johnson has won 24 PGA Tour events and six World Golf Championships. He moved to LIV Golf in 2022.
Johnson made the list of highest paid athletes in 2023 in sixth place, below footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, basketball player Lebron James and Mexican boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Phil Mickelson – $106 million
Mickelson has won 45 PGA Tour events, including six major championships, three Masters titles, two PGA Championships and one British Open. In 2021 he become the oldest major winner in golf history at 50 when he won the PGA Championship
Mickelson stirred up controversy in February 2022 by saying he was willing to join LIV despite alleged human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.
Rory McIlroy – $80.8 million
McIlroy, a former world number one and current number three, is a four-time major champion and 19-time PGA Tour winner.
Tiger Woods – $75.1 million
Woods, who holds the joint record of 82 PGA Tour wins with Sam Snead, has won five Masters, four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open titles and three British Opens.
Woods has earned roughly $1.8 billion during his professional golf career according to Forbes.
Cameron Smith – $73 million
Smith captured his first major title at the 2022 British Open and won the Players Championship the same year. He signed with LIV Golf in 2022.
Brooks Koepka – $72 million
Koepka, former world number one from 2018 to 2020, has won four major titles. He was among the PGA Tour players to join the LIV Golf tour in 2022.
Bryson DeChambeau – $69 million
American who has won eight times on the PGA Tour, including the 2020 U.S. Open. Currently plays on the LIV Golf circuit. Nicknamed “The Scientist” for his approach to the sport.
Jon Rahm – $53 million
Current world number two, after holding the top spot for a total of 52 weeks. First Spaniard to win the U.S. Open in 2021. Won his second major at the 2023 Masters.
Patrick Reed – $52 million
Won the 2018 Masters. Currently playing on the LIV Golf circuit, he has nine PGA Tour victories. Represented the U.S. at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
Jordan Spieth – $47.5 million
American three-time major winner and former world number one, currently ranked 10th, became the second-youngest golfer behind Woods to win the Masters in 2015. Is 43rd on the Forbes highest-paid athletes list.
(Compiled by Angelica Medina and Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
