Harrington 10th biggest earner in 2007

By Brian Keogh

Padraig Harrington was the tenth biggest earner in world golf last year.

Thanks to his first major victory in the Open at Carnoustie, Golf Digest magazine's annual rich list reports that Harrington pocketed a massive $14.1 million in 2007 - $4.93 in tournament earnings and another $9.25 million off the golf course.

The publication's annual "Golf Digest 50" moved Harrington up four places to 10th in total earnings last term with Tiger Woods top of the money pile with a staggering $122.7 million.

Off-course income includes estimates of all money earned from non-tournament sources such as endorsements, bonuses, appearance fees, corporate outings, speaking engagements and course architecture.

Woods passed the $100 million mark in career winnings for the first time and has now banked over $750 million since 1996.

The world No 1 won almost $23 million around the world if you include the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus.

But his off-course earnings were $99.8 million and he looks certain to become the first athlete to earn over $1 billion.

According to industry experts, Harrington's major victory will double his income for the forseeable future.

Justin Leonard's agent Rocky Hambric said: "Almost all endorsement agreements will have a major-championship victory bonus in them, varying from the lowest of about $100,000 up to $1 million or more for a first major.

"That would go for all industry agreements and corporate deals as well, so a player usually will have three or more of those bonuses."

Hambric added that a proven player who wins his first major will see his appearance fee, once $50,000 to $100,000, jump to $500,000 or more.

IMG's Guy Kinnings, whose London office handles the affairs of top Europeans such as Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, reckons that a major victory is virtually a licence to print money.

Kinnings said: "Depending on the circumstances, (earnings) could easily go up by a multiple of 10.

"The global impact of a major victory provides the ability to get to territories that perhaps you wouldn't have gotten to before and invitations to tournaments at the end of the season."

The "Golf Digest 50" includes 11 new names but Aussie Stuart Appleby, Kiwi Michael Campbell and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal dropped out of the money major league.

Just 10 Europeans made the top 50 with eighth ranked Sergio Garcia and Dubliner Harrington the only one to make the top 10.

Despite his failure to win a major, Scot Montgomerie was the 14th biggest earner in world golf with England's Justin Rose debuting at 21st with $8.9 million.

Golf's top earners in 2007
Rank (2006 rank) On course Off course Total
1 (1) Tiger Woods $22,902,706 $99,800,000 $122,702,706
2 (2) Phil Mickelson $9,372,685 $40,200,000 $49,572,685
3 (4) Vijay Singh $6,506,678 $25,250,000 $31,756,678
4 (7) Ernie Els $5,153,430 $24,500,000 $29,653,430
5 (3) Arnold Palmer $50,000 $29,500,000 $29,550,000
6 (5) Greg Norman $6,028 $24,000,000 $24,006,028
7 (9) Jack Nicklaus $160,000 $20,750,000 $20,910,000
8 (11) Sergio Garcia $4,501,622 $14,500,000 $19,001,622
9 (8) Jim Furyk $4,754,046 $11,000,000 $15,754,046
10 (14) PADRAIG HARRINGTON $4,939,354 $9,250,000 $14,189,354