Jordan Spieth’s and Tiger Woods’ careers have been going in different directions for the last few years. As Spieth rocketed up the Official World Golf Rankings, Woods has tumbled into the depths of obscurity. Not surprisingly then, the endorsement dollars that each brought in in 2015 reflected their respective standing in the game.
Forbes released their annual World’s Highest-Paid Athletes of 2016 list on Wednesday and to the shock of no one, Spieth made a giant move up the list — from 85th in 2015 to 9th this year. Forbes estimated that Spieth made $32 million in endorsements to bolster the $20.8 million he made on the course last year.
Spieth’s $52.8 million income last year pushed him ahead of Tiger Woods, whose $45 million in endorsements was supplemented by just $274,000 in on-course earnings. Tiger dropped from No. 9 on the list last year to 12th in 2016.
Don’t cry for Tiger, however. If Woods’ doesn’t play at all in 2016 and brings in the same amount of endorsement dollars, he would still be a top-15 athlete earner in the world.
Even though he surpassed Tiger, Spieth is still looking up at one golfer: Phil Mickelson. Lefty hauled in $52.9 million last year, just nipping Spieth to get the No. 8 spot. Rory McIlroy comes in at No. 17 on the list, down five spots from last year clearing $42.6 million in 2015. Jason Day made his debut on the list at 69th, earning $23.6 million.
[Forbes]
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