Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: Who Has a Higher Net Worth?
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have been competing against each other on the golf course for more than two decades, and as two of the most recognizable names in the sport, they have made a lot of money while doing so. Despite being on the downturns of their respective careers, Mickelson and Woods have made more than enough to get by. It makes sense, then, that they are two of the top earners in the history of the PGA.
Phil Mickelson’s career
According to Biography.com, Mickelson has been golfing professionally since he was only 22. Before that, he was one of the best college golfers in the country, winning three individual championships at Arizona State. Despite his enormous stature in the game of golf, however, it was not always smooth sailing as Mickelson looked to find his place in the professional game.
Mickelson was becoming one of the best golfers in the country during his 20s but found it hard to show up when it mattered during the major tournaments. Even though he had defeated several of the biggest names in golfs in minor tournaments, it was not until the 2004 Masters when Mickelson, now 33, finally earned his elusive major.
Mickelson would win two more majors over the next year and amass $42M during his most successful season as a golfer. He would have sporadic success from then until now, but he never recaptured that 2006-07 glory. Mickelson is still competing but has not won a major since 2013.
Tiger Woods’ career
Woods was golfing at just three years olds, according to Britannica, and it only went up from there. He was a U.S. Junior Amateur Champion at 15, 16, and 17, and a U.S. Amateur Champion at 18. Woods played one year at Stanford University but quickly turned professional after winning the collegiate title during his first year.
Woods won two titles as a rookie in 1996. Then, in 1997, he put on one of the most dominating Masters performances of all time and finished 12 strokes ahead of the field in 1997.
By 1999, he was the best golfer in the world, winning eight times for the year. This was the beginning of a record-tying six-win streak that bled into the new millennium.
For much of the next decade, Woods would dominate the field, winning 13 of his 15 majors from 1999 to 2008. A high-profile divorce that came with a slew of tabloid headlines combined with injury woes derailed a career that, for many, had been one that was destined to catch up to Jack Nicklaus’s career with 18 major wins.
Since then, Woods has had flashes of brilliance, such as his 2019 win at the Masters, his first major in over a decade, but he has largely remained a shell of his former self.
Who has a higher net worth between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson?
Mickelson has made himself a fortune out on the golf course. According to TieBreaker.com, he has earned about $375 million throughout his playing career. Mickelson has made north of $80 million on the golf course, but his sponsorship deals with Callaway, Exxon Mobil, Rolex, and several other big-name companies are what has made him the most money. However, when compared to Tiger Woods, these earnings are quickly dwarfed.
Despite his prime being cut short, Woods remains the biggest name in professional golf. He has earned over $100 million on the golf course, but when people factor in his Nike sponsorships and other well-known business endeavors, his career-earnings rise just shy of a billion dollars at $850 million. He was a superstar athlete in a sport where few achieve that level of fame. Even today, a decade removed from his scandals, Woods draws a crowd and makes people excited for golf.
While a younger generation of golfers is on the rise, Woods and Mickelson operate on a plane that will be hard for any of them to match. This is why they are two of the best and got paid quite handsomely in the process.
