Scottie Scheffler may have had a generational season on the fairways, but a look back at Tiger Woods’ career serves as a timely reminder why he’s the greatest of all time.
Scheffler won the season-ending Tour Championship on September 1, marking the seventh tournament he won this year. The 28-year-old also won the gold medal in men’s golf at the Paris Olympics for the United States. Although his victory in Paris didn’t net him any prize money, his astounding 2024 season ensured Scheffler’s wallet was bursting at the seams. Per the PGA Tour’s site, Scheffler’s performances across the year landed him £22.2million ($29.2m) in prize money out of a possible £43.5m ($57.3m).
That does not even include the £6m ($8m) bonus from winning the FedEx Cup. Scheffler’s earnings worked out to be 51.02 per cent of what he could have won, which further underlines how dominant he was during the events he competed in. But as excellent as Scheffler has been this year, a scroll through previous seasons shows that he has some way to go before he reaches the greatness levels of Woods.
Across Woods’ highly-decorated career, in which he’s won a mind-boggling 15 majors, his prize money has been 50 per cent or more of potential earnings in three separate seasons. The first was in 1999 when Woods won eight tournaments, which included his second major having triumphed in the PGA Championship. That year, Woods brought in £5m ($6.6m) from a possible £9.9m ($13m), winning 50.54 per cent of potential money.
Woods continued his scintillating form on the greens the following year with nine tournament wins, three of which were majors. In 2000, he netted £7m ($9.2m) from £11m ($14.6m), which equates to 63 per cent of potential earnings won. Woods enjoyed a similar percentage six years later, with his eight wins landing him £7.5m ($9.9m) from a possible £12.8m ($17m), which equates to 58.63 per cent of potential earnings won.
Granted, golf fans would be right to point out Woods has enjoyed a season where his percentage of potential money won eclipses those three figures. In 2008, Woods won 78.25 percent of the prize money up for grabs when he raked in £4.4m ($5.8m) from a possible £5.6m ($7.4m) However, Woods was only able to compete in just six tournaments that year having undergone two separate knee surgeries.
The money involved in Woods’ winnings are dwarfed by Scheffler’s, but it’s important to remember how rapidly the prize money has increased over the years. A large reason behind the rising prize money figures on the PGA Tour was because of the riches on offer in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf. In order to combat the threat of the rebel competition, the PGA Tour brought in the concept of signature events.
There are eight signature events each year but it features a limited field, ensuring a higher quality of golf along with increased prize money and points towards the FedEx Cup. Before they became designated signature events, the winner at The Sentry, Pebble Beach, Genesis Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational would take home £1.3m ($1.7m) in 2021.
In 2024, winners at The Sentry and Pebble Beach will enjoy a £2.7m ($3.6m) pay day, with the figure increasing to £3m ($4m) at the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational. Given Scheffler’s sheer dominance this year, there’s little reason to believe he cannot continue his form next season and add even more winnings to his bank account.