Golf
Tiger Woods’ $22.9 Million Season Earnings Record Is in Serious Jeopardy at the Tour Championship
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
Get to know Jack Dougherty betterPublished24 Aug 2022
To no one’s surprise, Tiger Woods is the most prolific money-maker in PGA Tour history. The 15-time major champion has banked more than $120 million on the course throughout his career, while no one else in golf history has earned more than $95 million.
In 2007, Woods enjoyed the most lucrative season of his career in terms of on-course earnings. Thanks to his seven wins and his FedEx Cup title, the golf legend racked up a whopping $22.9 million in winnings.
Tiger’s 2007 campaign is one of the highest-earning seasons in PGA Tour history, but nearly 60% of the 2022 Tour Championship field can surpass Woods with a win this week.
Tiger Woods earned a career-high $22.9 million in 2007
Back in 2007, Woods was nearly unbeatable every time he teed it up in a professional event. In 16 starts that season, he won seven tournaments and finished inside the top 10 a ridiculous 12 times. He didn’t miss a single cut all year, and his worst finish was a T37 at the Players Championship.
Woods ripped off one of the most dominant hot streaks of his career to end the 2007 season. Over his final six starts of the year, Tiger won five times. A T2 finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship in September held him back from six straight wins to end the season.
In the final two events of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Woods shot a combined 45 under par to dust the field in both the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship. He didn’t shoot worse than 67 over those eight spectacular rounds of golf.
By winning the FedEx Cup in the inaugural year of the event, Woods tacked on $10 million to his season earnings total to finish with $22.9 million, per Statista. That’s still the most lucrative season he’s ever had on the PGA Tour, but 17 players can top it this weekend.
Nearly 60% of the Tour Championship field can pass Tiger with a win this week
Tiger’s $22.9 million in earnings was unheard of 15 years ago, but it’s child’s play in today’s world of golf. The winner of the Tour Championship this weekend will take home $18 million, which will mark the largest cash prize in PGA Tour history.
Because of the historic FedEx Cup prize up for grabs, 17 of the 29 players in this week’s field can surpass Woods’ season earnings record with a win. That’s more than 58% of the field! The percentage would be even higher if Will Zalatoris didn’t withdraw from the tournament due to a back injury.
Check out the 17 players who can pass Tiger this week and what their season earnings would be with a FedEx Cup win:
| Player | Season earnings | Projected season earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | $14,046,910 | $32,046,910 |
| Cameron Smith | $10,107,897 | $28,107,897 |
| Patrick Cantlay | $9,369,605 | $27,369,605 |
| Rory McIlroy | $8,654,566 | $26,654,566 |
| Xander Schauffele | $7,427,299 | $25,427,299 |
| Sam Burns | $7,073,986 | $25,073,986 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | $7,012,672 | $25,012,672 |
| Justin Thomas | $6,829,576 | $24,829,576 |
| Cameron Young | $6,520,598 | $24,520,598 |
| Tony Finau | $6,117,886 | $24,117,886 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | $5,776,298 | $23,776,298 |
| Sungjae Im | $5,567,974 | $23,567,974 |
| Max Homa | $5,289,842 | $23,289,842 |
| Jon Rahm | $5,248,220 | $23,248,220 |
| Joaquin Niemann | $5,076,060 | $23,076,060 |
| Jordan Spieth | $5,018,444 | $23,018,444 |
| Billy Horschel | $4,940,600 | $22,940,600 |
All earnings figures courtesy of PGA Tour.
Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.
