Phil Mickelson moves above Tiger Woods in Forbes' 2022 golf earners, LIV players dominate list

ByAlex Livie

Published 31/07/2022 at 15:21 GMT

LIV Golf is causing huge controversy, with players defecting from the PGA Tour on the back of huge contract offers. One of those was Phil Mickelson, and his switch has catapulted him to the top of golf's earnings list for 2022. A host of other LIV players are in the top 10. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are PGA Tour players on the list.

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Phil Mickelson’s move to LIV Golf has lifted him above Tiger Woods as the highest-earning golfer in 2022.

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf has disrupted the sport by splashing out huge contracts to lure players from the PGA Tour.

Mickelson was one of the first to sign up, for a reported $200m, half of which was rumoured to be paid up front.

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The likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeu and Brooks Koepka followed, again for huge contracts.

According to Forbes, those deals made them the top earning golfers, and above Woods.

Woods is a billionaire and despite playing only three times this season on account of a serious leg injury, Forbes estimates he has made $68m in 2022.

The 15-time major winner Woods is the star figure in golf and is reported to have turned down an offer from LIV chief Greg Norman believed to be near the $1 billion mark.

Rory McIlroy has been an outspoken critic of LIV, questioning its format, and he is one spot behind Woods on the Forbes list.

Rounding out the top 10 are Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel.

Along with Woods and McIlroy, Spieth is the only other player in the top 10 not to be contracted to LIV.

Forbes’ Top 10 earning golfers

Phil Mickelson - On Course $102 million - Off Course $36 million - $138 million
Dustin Johnson - On Course $68 million - Off Course $29 million - $97 million
Bryson DeChambeau - On Course $66 million - Off Course $20 million - $86 million
Brooks Koepka - On Course $53 million - Off Course $16 million - $69 million
Tiger Woods - On Course $43,500 - Off Course $68 million - $68 million
Rory McIlroy - On Course $9 million - Off Course $34 million - $43 million
Sergio Garcia - On Course $35 million - Off Course $7 million - $42 million
Jordan Spieth - On Course $8 million - Off Course - $31 million - $39 million
Patrick Reed - On Course $34 million - Off Course - $3 million - $37 million
Charl Schwartzel - On Course $30 million - Off Course - $4 million - $34 million

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