Tiger Woods v Rory McIlroy. Just how do they compare…
Between them, they have 20 Majors, and they’ve been the leading players for nearly the past 30 years. They’re two of only six golfers to have won all four Majors, and no other players have moved the needle, on and off the course, as Woods and McIlroy.
We look at how their careers compare as Woods soon becomes eligible for the Champions Tour while McIlroy, still only 36, goes in search of a fourth FedEx Cup title.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy net worth
Tiger Woods
According to Forbes, Woods has earned approximately $1.8bn. Over the years, has has had a multitude of big-name sponsors – now, despite his lack of on-course action, his website still lists the following as Woods’ sponsors: Bridgestone Gold, Full Swing Simulators, Hero, Kowa, Monster Energy, TaylorMade, Upper Deck, 2K and Sun Day Red.
He has two homes on Jupiter Island, a course design business and the mini-golf chain Popstroke.
This year’s world’s highest-paid athletes, according to Forbes, are listed as follows:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $275m
2. Stephen Curry – $156m
3. Tyson Fury – $146m
4. Dak Prescott – $137m
5. Lionel Messi – $135m
6. LeBron James – $133.8m
7. Juan Soto – $114m
8. Karim Benzema – $104m
9. Shohei Ohtani – $102.5m
10. Kevin Durant – $101.4m
Rory McIlroy
According to the Sunday Times Rich List for this year, McIlroy’s net worth is around £260million, a total which will have gone up immeasurably after his win at Augusta to complete the career Grand Slam.
On his website, his ‘partners’ are listed as FM, NBC Sports, Optum, Nike, TaylorMade, and Omega. Not listed is TPG Sports and Workday who McIlroy is thought to be partnered.
The pair launched TMRW Sports, the technology-focused sports company, whose biggest project is the TGL (Tomorrow’s Golf League).
On-course PGA Tour earnings
Tiger Woods
The American joined the Tour in 1996, has played in 378 events and made the cut in 339 of them. In that time he has official earnings of $120,999,166.
Rory McIlroy
The Northern Irishman joined the Tour in 2010, has played in 271 events and made the cut in 239 of them. In that time, he has official earnings of $107,145,766.
So the likelihood is that McIlroy will overtake his friend and business partner in the coming years.
On-course DP World Tour earnings
Much of these earnings will overlap with the PGA Tour, but it is interesting to note that Woods is ranked third (behind Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer) on the all-time wins (41) on the old European Tour.
Tiger Woods
His career money is not listed as he’s not a member of the Tour, though he has been granted honorary life membership by the R&A.
Rory McIlroy
His career money to date is €65,277,663, from 258 starts.
PGA Tour wins
Tiger Woods
No player has more wins on Tour than Woods, who is level with Sam Snead on 82 victories. Snead’s effort came over a playing career of 30 years.
Rory McIlroy
The five-time Major winner is now level with Lee Trevino and Gene Littler on 29 victories, which is good for a tie for 18th.
Major wins
Tiger Woods
Again, Woods very nearly leads the way. He has 15 successes in the big ones, three short of Jack Nicklaus. Incredibly, he only has one W since 2008, but, after what he went through, that Masters win in 2019 superseded everything that he’d achieved before.
Rory McIlroy
For McIlroy, his lean spell was needed at Augusta in April, a win-free run that dated back to 2014.
He is now on five, the same number as Seve Ballesteros, James Braid, Brooks Koepka, Byron Nelson, JH Taylor and Peter Thomson.
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