Dallas golfer Scottie Scheffler is on the cusp of surpassing Tiger Woods to become the career earnings leader on the PGA Tour, and he doesn’t even have to win this week to do it.
Scheffler, and McIlroy, could blow by Woods this month by winning the FedEx Cup playoff, which comes with a $10 million bonus that counts toward career earnings.
The playoff continues this week at the BMW Championship in St. Louis, with the winner receiving another $3.6 million. Scheffler can also pass Woods by finishing second ($2.1 million) or third ($1.3 million).
Woods has been atop the PGA Tour career earnings since his runner-up finish at Torrey Pines on Feb. 13, 2000, before a young Scheffler had even moved from New Jersey to Dallas.
Here’s a comparison of their careers:
Once adjusted for inflation, Woods still holds a sizable advantage over Scheffler in career PGA Tour earnings. Woods’ career earnings amount to about $207 million in today’s dollars, compared with $131 million for Scheffler.
Prize money began climbing rapidly with the Woods’ rise and his immense popularity, then surged again with the arrival of LIV Golf.
Purses have come a long way since the early days of Jack Nicklaus’ career. When Nicklaus won the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, he took home $17,500 — including a $15,000 winner’s share and a $2,500 playoff bonus from gate receipts after he defeated Arnold Palmer in a playoff.
Nicklaus competed in 584 official PGA Tour events during his legendary career, making the cut in 495. Woods has played 378 official PGA Tour events, making 339 cuts. Scottie Scheffler has competed in 168 PGA Tour events and made the cut in 148 of them.
Here’s a look at their career wins and prize money: