Newly minted major superstar golfer Jordan Spieth just surpassed Tiger Woods’ 2007 record for earnings (on the golf course). Woods’ made $20,867,052 in 2007 playing golf alone, earnings distinct from his enormously lucrative endorsement deals. Spieth just captured the FedEx Cup first place prize, which nets him a $10 million bonus for his already bountiful year.
The bonus pushes Spieth’s earnings for 2015 to just over $22 million, without counting a nickel of Spieth’s endorsement money. Woods’ 2007 money may have been worth more in real terms than Spieth’s 2015 money, but it’s a quibble. Money comparisons over time tend to obscure the larger accomplishments. For instance both Spieth and Woods made more money each in their single best year than Jack Nicklaus earned in prize money during his entire career. But Nicklaus remains the winningest golfer of all-time with 18 professional major championships.
