Golf's Top Five Earners Brought in Over Two Hundred Million Dollars in 2015

Golf Digest shared the top earning golfers for 2015 including both their on and off the course incomes and the difference between the big four and the rest of the field is A LOT. Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy dominate the golf landscape. Their incomes combined total $200,851,483. That includes both on and off course earnings. This year there is a new top earner for the first time in 13 years, and there’s really no surprise who it is.

Here’s Golf Digest’s specifications for the numbers:

"On-course income for 2015 includes all money earned on the PGA Tour and the five international tours (Japan PGA, PGA European, Australasian, Southern Africa, Asian) and the Champions Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and the Japan LPGA through Nov. 22. It includes unofficial money won in nontour events. Off-course income includes estimates of all money earned from endorsements, bonuses, appearance fees, corporate outings, speaking engagements, licensing fees (video games, trading cards, etc.), course architecture, books, instructional videos and businesses that capitalize on a person’s status as a player, such as product lines including clothing, wine and turfgrass. Investment income is not included."

The closest competitor to the big four, Jason Day, is only $27,529,860 shy of Rory McIlroy’s $46,968,190.

5) Jason Day

Jason Daywon five tournaments in 2015. He also had one third place finish and 11 other top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour. It’s safe to say that Day’s income will continue to climb in the near future if he keeps producing spectacular finishes.

On course: $11,938,330
Off course: $7,500,000
Total: $19,438,330

4) Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy’s year was alright, but not quite what’s expected of him. McIlroy claimed two wins in 2015 and had seven top 10 finishes, but his season was cut short after he injured himself playing soccer, which clearly cut into his income.

On course: $9,468,190
Off course: $37,500,000
Total: $46,968,190

3) Tiger Woods

We all know how Tiger Woods’s 2015 went. Woods struggled early but appeared to regain some form at Augusta before losing it all over again. Woods did compete at the Wyndham Championship, but his on course earnings have dropped drastically since his 2013 PGA Tour season.

On course: $551,098
Off course: $48,000,000
Total: $48,551,098

2) Phil Mickelson

Even if Phil Mickelson doesn’t win anything, which he hasn’t in the last two years, he still manages to find himself at the top of a leaderboard or two. Mickelson finished the 2015 PGA Tour season with one second place finish, one third, and three other top 10’s.

On course: $2,301,730
Off course: $50,000,000
Total: $52,301,730

1) Jordan Spieth

No surprise here,Jordan Spieth dominated 2015. His PGA Tour earnings skyrocketted from $4,342,748 in 2014 to $12,030,465 in 2015.

On course: $23,030,465
Off course: $30,000,000
Total: $53,030,465

The list also includes former players like Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer, who all rank in the top 10 in income, but all of their income is off course.

Check out the full list at Golf Digest.