Tiger Woods is still in search of that elusive major after a nearly six-year drought, but his wallet is doing just fine.
Woods pushed past $1.3 billion in career earnings, Golf Digest is reporting in its February issue.
The magazine estimated that 88 percent of the money Woods has earned since turning pro in 1996 ($1.16 billion) has come from endorsements.
His $83 million total take topped the Golf Digest list for another year. Woods made $71 million off-the-course to go with the $12 million he earned on the greens in 2013. Victories at The Players ($1.71 million), Bridgestone ($1.5M) and Doral ($1.5M) contributed significantly to the kitty.
Woods was earning more than $100 million in endorsements in 2008 and 2009, before the salacious scandal concerning his extramarital affairs and divorce. His off-the-course pile cratered — relatively — to $62 million in 2011 as his Q rating and golf game sank to career lows.
But his public image has been somewhat restored in recent years, and he is now dating ski champion Lindsey Vonn. Woods recently signed a fresh endorsement contract with Nike, which has long been his biggest benefactor, paying him eight figures annually. His deal with video-game company EA Sports, however, ran out in 2013.
Another lucrative revenue stream is the golf course business, as evidenced by the presence of retired greats Arnold Palmer ($40 million) and Jack Nicklaus ($26 million) at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, on the list. According to Golf Digest, Palmer, 84, had his best financial year ever, 40 years after his last PGA Tour win. In other words, Woods isn’t leaving the ranks of golf’s top earners anytime soon.
FedEx Cup winner Henrik Stenson checked in at No. 5 — though with an unusual ratio for his earnings. The veteran Swede, formerly a victim of a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Allen Stanford, earned $19 million on the course compared to just $2.8 million in endorsements.
Woods has said he will open his 2014 campaign — again in pursuit of his 15th career major title — at Torrey Pines on Jan. 23.