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Tiger Woods with $1.3 billion in earnings set to launch 2014 campaign at Torrey Pines
Tiger Woods at the 18th hole – during the Presidents Cup golf tournament, October 6, 2013. PHOTO/Darron Cummings/AP
World number 1., Tiger Woods has pushed past US$1.3 billion in career earnings, according to a report published in the February issue of Golf Digest.
According to the report, 88 percent of the money Woods has earned since turning pro in 1996 (US$1.16 billion) has come from endorsements.
Woods made US$71 million in off-the-course earnings to go with his US$12 million earned on the greens in 2013. His US$83 million total take was good enough to top Golf Digest’s money list for yet another year. After earning more than US$100 million in endorsements in 2008 and 2009, Woods’ off-the-course take took a hit due to personal circumstances. Things have rebounded slightly from a low of US$62 million in endorsement money in 2011, according to the Golf Digest report.
Woods launches his 2014 campaign at one of his favorite venues, having committed on Monday to play in this month’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, tournament organizers said.
He won the event there for a record seventh time last year, ending a week of mainly dominant golf by clinching his 75th PGA Tour title by 4 shots.
It was the third different PGA Tour event where he has achieved the feat, having previously piled up 7 wins apiece at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Woods had been widely expected to officially commit to his title defense at the January 23-26 Farmers Insurance Open after being asked by reporters last month whether he expected to start the new season with more or less confidence than before.
“Well, I’ve done well at Torrey Pines,” he replied, after losing a playoff to fellow American Zach Johnson for the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge which he hosts. “I’ve done pretty good. That’s my first tournament back.”
Woods comes off a highly successful 2013 campaign, having won a season-high five times on the PGA Tour and earning the circuit Player of the Year accolade, as voted upon by his peers.
The only blemish on an otherwise impressive resume was his failure to add another major title to his career tally of 14, which has stalled since his remarkable playoff victory for the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
“Pretty damn good year,” Woods said of his 2013 season. “Five wins, and you know, on some pretty good venues, so very pleased with the year. I’m really excited about the major championships in 2014.
“I’ve won at 3 of the 4 venues – Augusta National, Valhalla Golf Club (PGA Championship) and Royal Liverpool (British Open) – and on Pinehurst No. 2 (U.S. Open), I’m trending the right way, having finished third and second.
“But I still need to practice, work, grind and prepare, and have my game come together those 4 times a year. And I hope that will happen.”
Sources: ESPN; Reuters