You won’t believe how much Tiger Woods’ historic 2000 season would have earned him in 2024 money 💰💵
In recent times, Scottie Scheffler has been drawing comparisons to the legendary Tiger Woods, and for good reason. Following his second green jacket win, Scheffler has asserted himself as the most dominant World No. 1 since Woods, boasting impressive world ranking points, strokes gained stats, and prize money earnings. However, it’s the latter point that merits a closer examination.
Undoubtedly, much has evolved since Woods’ prime, with golfers now commanding significantly higher paydays—thanks in large part to Tiger’s influence. Adjusting for inflation and modern financial structures, the results are nothing short of staggering.
Our own Jamie Kennedy delved into this, calculating what Woods’ historic 2000 season, featuring nine PGA Tour titles, including three majors, would translate to in 2024 prize money. Back in 2000, Woods set a record with over $10.7 million in earnings, but that pales in comparison to the potential earnings today.
Factoring in larger purses and additional player bonuses, such as those from the FedEx Cup and the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program, the figure skyrockets to over $92 million for one season alone. A truly mind-boggling sum!
Kennedy acknowledges that the comparison isn’t perfect, considering differences in tournament structures and payouts. For instance, when Woods tied for a certain place, Kennedy credited him with the solo position’s earnings. Additionally, Woods’ tournaments spanned across January and December, albeit with marginal impact on the total.
Assuming Woods would have clinched both the FedEx Cup and PIP top bonuses—an assumption bolstered by his nine victories, including three majors—the projection remains robust.
Of course, Scheffler is carving his own path in 2024, already amassing over $15 million in earnings across nine events. With a shot at claiming the $25 million FedEx Cup bonus and the $4 million AON bonus, his potential winnings are substantial. Yet, despite being the two-time reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year, he’s yet to clinch the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings.
Excluding bonuses, Scheffler’s $21,014,032 from last season stands as the tour’s record for most prize money earned in a single season—a feat for which he owes a debt of gratitude to Tiger’s influence.
Woods, on the other hand, has amassed just under $121 million in official prize money throughout his career dating back to 1996. Nevertheless, under today’s payout structures, he would have potentially earned three-quarters of that sum in a single season.
In the end, while comparisons abound, even Scheffler acknowledges that when it comes to discussing the best players of the modern era, there’s Tiger Woods, and then there’s everyone else.
