USA have edge in financial stakes

ATLANTA - The United States will try to win back the Ryder Cup with a side that has earned a staggering £235million on the PGA Tour alone.

Sunday, September 23, 2012
Tiger Woods of the US leads the way in career earnings. Net photo

ATLANTA - The United States will try to win back the Ryder Cup with a side that has earned a staggering £235million on the PGA Tour alone.Tiger Woods, making his seventh appearance, and Phil Mickelson, earning a record ninth cap for the States, not surprisingly lead the way in career earnings with £62million and £41million respectively.The poor man of the side is last year’s USPGA champion Keegan Bradley. He is having to survive on earnings so far of a mere £4.6million.Jose Maria Olazabal, meanwhile, will captain a team that has won just under £130million on the European Tour and, in most cases, further fortunes in the States.In Europe alone Lee Westwood is their top man in the money stakes on £22million, with cup newcomer Nicolas Colsaerts bringing up the rear on £3.2million.Sergio Garcia is their leading earner in America with £18.7million, followed by Luke Donald on £17.4million and Justin Rose on £12.4million.The money menUSATiger Woods £62.1millionPhil Mickelson £41.6mJim Furyk £32.2mSteve Stricker £21.5mZach Johnson £16.1mMatt Kuchar £12.7mDustin Johnson £10.3mBubba Watson £10.2mBrandt Snedeker £9mJason Dufner £7.5mWebb Simpson £7.2mKeegan Bradley £4.6mEuropeLee Westwood £22.1m (PGA Tour £8.3m)Sergio Garcia £13.6m (£18.7m)Ian Poulter £13.2m (£7.7m)Luke Donald £11.6m (£17.4m)Martin Kaymer £11.2m (£1.7m)Graeme McDowell £10.9m (£4.4m)Rory McIlroy £10.5m (£8m)Paul Lawrie £8.9m (£823,000)Peter Hanson £8m (£1.1m)Justin Rose £7.9m (£12.4m)Francesco Molinari £7.5m (£627k)Nicolas Colsaerts £3.2m (£304k)Agencies