[Davis Love III]

The European Tour kicked off 3 weeks ago in South Africa, but our winter weeknights will soon be brightened up by the return of the PGA Tour, which kicks off this Thursday in Hawaii, with the Hyundai Champions event, before the first full field event with the following weeks Sony Open.

With Graeme McDowell now moving over to the US Tour we will be able to see if he can continue his rise to stardom on US shores and contend for the Fed Ex Cup and massive titles. Will Tiger finally come back to form and claim his spot at the top of the game? Or will another year of frustration occur for Woods? Will the apparent 'New Breed' of young American players, Fowler, D Johnson (& the much fancied Lovemark) start to dominate the tour and fly the flag proudly for the States?

The European Tour attacks the PGA Tour constantly, but to me personally, the States is still the place to watch consistently exciting Tournaments.

Hope you enjoy the Golf this year Stateside!

This post has been edited by Davis Love III: 03 January 2011 - 23:36

[Davis Love III]

Golf Digest release their list of the top earning Golfers every year combining on course prize money and off course endeavours, and as always the list offers a few eye opening results!

(US Dollars) Figures Rounded

Top 20

1. Tiger Woods $72 Million ($2.5 Million On Course)
2. Phil Mickelson $40 Million ($4.5 Milliob On Course)
3. Arnold Palmer $36 Million
4. Greg Norman $30 Million ($9,000 On Course)
5. Jack Nicklaus $25 Million
6. Jim Furyk $23 Million ($16.5 Million On Course)
7. Ernie Els $21 Million ($7.5 Million On Course)
8. Gary Player $15 Million ($14,000 On Course)
9. Lee Westwood $14.7 Million ($9 Million On Course)
10. Luke Donald $12.4 Million ($8.3 Million On Course)
11. Sergio Garcia $12 Million ($1.4 Million On Course)
12. Padraig Harrington $11.6 Million ($3.3 Million On Course)
13. Camillo Villegas $11 Million ($3.9 Million On Course)
14. Graeme McDowell $9.7 Million ($7.7 Million On Course)
15. Matt Kuchar $9.4 Million ($8.1 Million On Course)
16. Martin Kaymer $9.3 Million ($7 Million On Course)
17. Fred Couples $9.1 Million ($3.3 Milllion On Course)
18. Ian Poulter $8.9 Million ($5.5 Million On Course)
19. Davis Love III $8.8 Million ($1.3 Million On Course)
20. Adam Scott $8.7 Million ($3.9 Million On Course)

Other Notables, Paul Casey (21) Rory McIlroy (24), Nick Faldo (29) Tom Watson (31) Colin Montgomerie (36)

Wealthy Chaps!

[Davis Love III]

List of 2011 Winners (After Week 1)

Hyundai Tournament of Champions - Jonathan Byrd
Sony Open - Mark Wilson
Bob Hope Classic -Jhonattan Vegas

This post has been edited by Davis Love III: 24 January 2011 - 17:17

[orlandoblue]

Garcia does very well off the course doesn't he.

[Davis Love III]

orlandoblue, on 17 January 2011 - 11:53, said:

Garcia does very well off the course doesn't he.

SuperAlly, on 17 January 2011 - 19:10, said:

OOOFT! there is some amount of money in golf!

There certainly is that! It would be interesting to see how these figures stack up against other sports earnings, but indeed, the off the course stuff, really does rake in the cash!

In other news, Jose Maria Olazabal will be confirmed as European Ryder Cup Captain tomorrow, and on Thursday the PGA of America will announce a certain Davis Love III as the United States Captain for 2012 Medinah!

[orlandoblue]

You realise you will have to temper your affection for him for 2 years ?

[The Phoenix]

orlandoblue, on 17 January 2011 - 23:07, said:

You realise you will have to temper your affection for him for 2 years ?

You mean Davis Love III isn't Davis Love III?

[Davis Love III]

The Phoenix, on 17 January 2011 - 23:09, said:

You mean Davis Love III isn't Davis Love III?

What an outrageous suggestion! Orlando doesn't know what he's talking about!

[lichtie23]

So Davis Love is the US Ryder cup captain!

Good to see Chris Di Marco back and playing solid golf

[Nightmare]

Jim Furyk made $16.5m purely from tournaments last year? That's insane, considering he rarely actually wins.

[stewie from paris]

lichtie23, on 20 January 2011 - 20:10, said:

So Davis Love is the US Ryder cup captain!

Good to see Chris Di Marco back and playing solid golf

Great appointment by the Yanks, Freddie Couples must be a stick on for a vice captain must he not?

[lichtie23]

Never been a fan of Davis Love...just looks like a grumpy b*****d all the time!

Fred Couples tho is a squire and a gent. Top top man!

[Davis Love III]

lichtie23, on 20 January 2011 - 20:10, said:

So Davis Love is the US Ryder cup captain!

Good to see Chris Di Marco back and playing solid golf

Like Ollie, there was only ever going to be one choice. I'm not sure Davis was particular open to the role before now, he still believes he has the game to qualify, and he probably does if he gets the flatstick working.

DiMarco has struggled for a few years now, lost his card, so he needs to get playing some good golf again! For a while from 04-06 he was a real contender in Majors!

Nightmare, on 20 January 2011 - 20:17, said:

Jim Furyk made $16.5m purely from tournaments last year? That's insane, considering he rarely actually wins.

I think that includes the $10 Million bonus for winning the Fed Ex Cup, which I'm not sure is fair, but that'll probably account for such a high total. He did win 3 times in 2010, which was the best of his career and the first time he had won for 3 seasons, as you said highly consistent, but hasn't won as much as he should.

stewie from paris, on 20 January 2011 - 20:23, said:

Great appointment by the Yanks, Freddie Couples must be a stick on for a vice captain must he not?

It's certainly a possibility, with Freddie having the experience of being a two time Presidents Cup captain, and being very highly regarded in that role, there will be a good chance of it!

lichtie23, on 20 January 2011 - 20:38, said:

Never been a fan of Davis Love...just looks like a grumpy b*****d all the time!

Fred Couples tho is a squire and a gent. Top top man!

You could say the very same thing about 95% of the Touring Professionals. Davis is a very sound guy, true gent, as is Freddie Couples who is the definition of cool!

This post has been edited by Davis Love III: 20 January 2011 - 20:49

[tigerton]

lichtie23, on 20 January 2011 - 20:38, said:

Never been a fan of Davis Love...just looks like a grumpy b*****d all the time!

Fred Couples tho is a squire and a gent. Top top man!

Don't listen to him Davis!!

[Davis Love III]

tigerton, on 20 January 2011 - 20:50, said:

Don't listen to him Davis!!

I know, I'm trying very hard to maintain my composure!

[Nightmare]

Davis Love III, on 20 January 2011 - 20:49, said:

I think that includes the $10 Million bonus for winning the Fed Ex Cup, which I'm not sure is fair, but that'll probably account for such a high total. He did win 3 times in 2010, which was the best of his career and the first time he had won for 3 seasons, as you said highly consistent, but hasn't won as much as he should.

Forgot he won the FedEx cup... yeah that's definitely a big chunk of it.

Still, can't say no to the $47m in prize money that he's made in his career, even if most of it is from top 5 finishes rather than titles.

[Davis Love III]

Nightmare, on 20 January 2011 - 20:55, said:

Forgot he won the FedEx cup... yeah that's definitely a big chunk of it.

Still, can't say no to the $47m in prize money that he's made in his career, even if most of it is from top 5 finishes rather than titles.

Exactly! That's one of the developments of the modern game that I don't particularly like, poeple are rewarded for having average success. Look at Tim Clark, a fine player, but only won in the US last year for the first time, but before that he had won $12 Million without winning a single event! You can make a ridiculous amount of money for being an average player. Need about $800,000 only to keep your playing rights!

[lichtie23]

Vegas looks an xciting talent

[mid-table]

Davis Love III, on 20 January 2011 - 20:58, said:

Exactly! That's one of the developments of the modern game that I don't particularly like, poeple are rewarded for having average success. Look at Tim Clark, a fine player, but only won in the US last year for the first time, but before that he had won $12 Million without winning a single event! You can make a ridiculous amount of money for being an average player. Need about $800,000 only to keep your playing rights!

This is where I have mixed feelings on the subject. You don't make a ridiculous amount of money for being an average player, you make a ridiculous amount of money for being an exceptional player. Average players by tour standard will struggle.

Also, the cost of being a touring pro is phenomenal. Let's say you earn $1M in a season, by the time your caddy has got 10%, management have 15%, you are left with $750,000. You will easily spend $100,000 in travel and $50,000 on accommodation. Your swing coach, putting coach, mind coach, physio, personal trainer all need to be paid, say another $100,000. Don't forget that you have to pay tax on your earnings, another $300,000. That leaves $200,000 earnings from original winnings of $1M. The real money is made from off-course work.

Of the 442 players who picked up a pay cheque on the PGA tour last year, only 99 of them made more than $1M. So only the cream of the PGA Tour made at least $200,000 net last year, still good money but not as outrageous as the headlines often suggest.

Out of interest, the average PGA event has a prize fund of $5.5M, and the prizes are broken down as follows;

1..$ 990,000 11..$ 137,500 21..$ 66,000 31..$ 35,750 41..$ 22,550 51..$ 13,530 61..$ 11,990
2..$ 594,000 12..$ 126,500 22..$ 61,600 32..$ 34,100 42..$ 21,450 52..$ 13,200 62..$ 11,880
3..$ 374,000 13..$ 115,500 23..$ 57,200 33..$ 32,450 43..$ 20,350 53..$ 12,980 63..$ 11,770
4..$ 264,000 14..$ 104,500 24..$ 52,800 34..$ 31,075 44..$ 19,250 54..$ 12,760 64..$ 11,660
5..$ 220,000 15..$ 99,000 25..$ 48,400 35..$ 29,700 45..$ 18,150 55..$ 12,650 65..$ 11,550
6..$ 198,000 16..$ 93,500 26..$ 44,000 36..$ 28,325 46..$ 17,050 56..$ 12,540 66..$ 11,440
7..$ 184,250 17..$ 88,000 27..$ 42,350 37..$ 26,950 47..$ 15,950 57..$ 12,430 67..$ 11,330
8..$ 170,500 18..$ 82,500 28..$ 40,700 38..$ 25,850 48..$ 15,070 58..$ 12,320 68..$ 11,220
9..$ 159,500 19..$ 77,000 29..$ 39,050 39..$ 24,750 49..$ 14,300 59..$ 12,210 69..$ 11,110
10..$ 148,500 20..$ 71,500 30..$ 37,400 40..$ 23,650 50..$ 13,860 60..$ 12,100 70..$ 11,000

[Davis Love III]

mid-table, on 21 January 2011 - 00:34, said:

This is where I have mixed feelings on the subject. You don't make a ridiculous amount of money for being an average player, you make a ridiculous amount of money for being an exceptional player. Average players by tour standard will struggle.

Also, the cost of being a touring pro is phenomenal. Let's say you earn $1M in a season, by the time your caddy has got 10%, management have 15%, you are left with $750,000. You will easily spend $100,000 in travel and $50,000 on accommodation. Your swing coach, putting coach, mind coach, physio, personal trainer all need to be paid, say another $100,000. Don't forget that you have to pay tax on your earnings, another $300,000. That leaves $200,000 earnings from original winnings of $1M. The real money is made from off-course work.

Of the 442 players who picked up a pay cheque on the PGA tour last year, only 99 of them made more than $1M. So only the cream of the PGA Tour made at least $200,000 net last year, still good money but not as outrageous as the headlines often suggest.

Out of interest, the average PGA event has a prize fund of $5.5M, and the prizes are broken down as follows;

1..$ 990,000 11..$ 137,500 21..$ 66,000 31..$ 35,750 41..$ 22,550 51..$ 13,530 61..$ 11,990
2..$ 594,000 12..$ 126,500 22..$ 61,600 32..$ 34,100 42..$ 21,450 52..$ 13,200 62..$ 11,880
3..$ 374,000 13..$ 115,500 23..$ 57,200 33..$ 32,450 43..$ 20,350 53..$ 12,980 63..$ 11,770
4..$ 264,000 14..$ 104,500 24..$ 52,800 34..$ 31,075 44..$ 19,250 54..$ 12,760 64..$ 11,660
5..$ 220,000 15..$ 99,000 25..$ 48,400 35..$ 29,700 45..$ 18,150 55..$ 12,650 65..$ 11,550
6..$ 198,000 16..$ 93,500 26..$ 44,000 36..$ 28,325 46..$ 17,050 56..$ 12,540 66..$ 11,440
7..$ 184,250 17..$ 88,000 27..$ 42,350 37..$ 26,950 47..$ 15,950 57..$ 12,430 67..$ 11,330
8..$ 170,500 18..$ 82,500 28..$ 40,700 38..$ 25,850 48..$ 15,070 58..$ 12,320 68..$ 11,220
9..$ 159,500 19..$ 77,000 29..$ 39,050 39..$ 24,750 49..$ 14,300 59..$ 12,210 69..$ 11,110
10..$ 148,500 20..$ 71,500 30..$ 37,400 40..$ 23,650 50..$ 13,860 60..$ 12,100 70..$ 11,000

Absolutely, but it is all relative. You could earn £40k a year and taking away the taxation etc you're probably left with a quarter less. But as you said, the real earnings are in the off the course endeavours. (As those Golf Digest Figues Prove) and there are of cours emany hidden expenses for players, in the travelling and accomodation stakes. It is amazing how consistent the PGA Tour is with their Prize Money each week, even in lesser events. While in Europe you can have a huge divide between one week or the other. But it's still a very good life to be had!

Edited to Note: Scotland's Martin Laird is only 3 shots back in the Bob Hope going into the final two rounds, with the current lead being held by American, Gary Woodland.

This post has been edited by Davis Love III: 22 January 2011 - 17:43

[lichtie23]

Go Martin Laird

[The Phoenix]

lichtie23, on 23 January 2011 - 19:36, said:

Go Martin Laird

Birdied the first and so did Vegas.

[lichtie23]

I'm watchin the NFL so will keep flicking accross durin tge advertd

[Davis Love III]

The Phoenix, on 23 January 2011 - 19:37, said:

Birdied the first and so did Vegas.

I've been very impressed by Vegas, looks a real talent, and has the cliched rags to riches story for the Golf Channel's insincere presenters (Rich Lerner) to drool over!

Hopefully Martin will get it done this evening! It's going to be a shootout!

[RandomGuy]

Any wonder kids coming through in Golfland? Heard about a young American chap awhile ago but not really heard much since