In the last four years, Scottie Scheffler has become a phenomenon dominating the professional men’s golf scene. Rising to No. 1 in the world in February 2022, Scheffler continuously earned huge bonuses, and of course, his caddy also benefited greatly.
Huge income, growing rapidly like a storm
With 19 victories, including 4 Major titles, Scheffler’s form is reminiscent of Tiger Woods’ heyday – a period when Woods was almost “invincible” on the PGA Tour. Tiger still holds the record for total career earnings of more than $120 million, but now a new generation is closing the incredible gap.
Since turning pro in 2018, Scheffler has earned more than $99 million. He did not exceed $1 million in the first season, but in the last six seasons, Scheffler earned an average of $16.5 million/season. Accordingly, with just two more seasons, the American golfer can exceed Woods’ total income.
Judging by recent trends, Scheffler is even better, earning at least $20 million in each of the past three seasons, and the 2024 season is the peak with $29 million. If this pace is maintained, Scheffler can officially usurp Tiger Woods at the end of the 2026 season, earlier than average predictions.
Comparing “two eras”
What shocked fans was that it only took Scheffler seven years as a professional to approach Tiger’s total income, while Woods needed nearly 30 years and recorded 82 PGA Tour victories. On average, Woods earns $4.5 million per season, compared to Scheffler’s recent average of $20 million.
| Criteria | Tiger Woods | Scottie Scheffler |
|---|---|---|
| Year of starting professional career | 1996 | 2018 |
| Number of years competing to date | ~30 years | 7 years |
| Total PGA Tour wins | 82 | 19 |
| Number of Major titles | 15 | 4 |
| Total PGA Tour income | >120 million USD | >99 million USD |
| Average bonus/season | ~4.5 million USD | ~16.5–20 million USD (last 6 seasons) |
| Current age | 49 | 27 |
| Highlights | The period of domination lasted nearly 20 years, with many records that were difficult to break | Fast pace of income accumulation, peak performance in a short time, approaching Woods’ record |
| Predicted to exceed Woods’ total income | Can pass at the end of the 2026 season |
This comparison not only reflects Scheffler’s earning speed, but also demonstrates the dramatic change in modern men’s golf, where young talent can make a spectacular breakthrough after just a few seasons.
If I keep my form, in just a few more years, Scottie Scheffler will become the richest golfer in PGA Tour history, continuing the story of a generation of powerful American golfers with spectacular breakthroughs, while challenging the seemingly inviolable records of Tiger Woods.
