Who Will Next Emulate Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Milestone

With his tied fifth finish at the Houston Open, Rory McIlroy banked another $337,843. Not a bad week’s work, I am sure you will agree. But of much more significance was the fact that it took him over $100m in career earnings on the PGA Tour, only the second man to do so after Tiger Woods, who has banked $120,999,166.

This all about much more than dollars in the bank, of course. Prize money on the PGA Tour has increased dramatically since the advent of LIV Golf and you can be sure that Woods and McIlroy will have company before much longer.

It is interesting to note that if you do an Internet search for "PGA Tour career money list", the names of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are conspicuous by their absence on account of the fact that they are no longer PGA Tour members because they now earn their money through LIV. 

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But we are pretty broad-minded, and we thought it might be fun to look at the top 10 earners, and how they achieved it.

1. Tiger Woods - $120,999,166

Woods has been the dominant force for the better part of 30 years. He joined the tour in 1996 and has won 82 times, including 15 majors. He has made 378 starts, making 339 cuts. Apart from his wins, there have been 31 runner-ups and 19 thirds and an astonishing 163 top fives. His record may never be matched but his prize money will surely be surpassed.

2. Rory McIlroy - $100,046,906

The Northern Irishman joined the tour in 2011 and has 28 wins to his credit in 262 starts, during which he has made 231 cuts. He has also won four majors, enjoyed 11 runner-up finishes, 11 thirds and 82 top fives. If he carries on as he has started in 2025, with two wins already, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could overtake Woods this year. He is a three-time FedEx Cup winner.

3. Phil Mickelson - $96,685,635

There are some who regard Mickelson as somebody who failed to live up to his potential but the figures tell a different story. In 666 starts he made 537 cuts. The left-hander won 45 times, finished second 38 times and third 28 times, as well as 138 top fives. Oh yes, and then there were his six majors.

4. Dustin Johnson - $75,557,026

He may now be languishing in 649th place in the world rankings, but DJ, who started 315 PGA Tour events, made 256 cuts and won 24 times, finished second 16 times, third nine times and had 70 top fives and also won the FedEx Cup in 2020, as well as the 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters. He was a fixture in the top 10 in the world rankings until joining LIV.

5. Scottie Scheffler - $75,134,784 

The most remarkable thing about Scheffler is that he has only been a professional since 2018 and did not join the PGA Tour until 2020. In that time, he has made 136 starts, missing just 19 cuts. He has 13 wins, including two Masters, 10 seconds and 11 third places, 46 top fives and 62 top 10s, winning the FedEx Cup in 2024. In 2024 alone he won seven times in 19 starts and added the Olympic title for good measure.

6. Adam Scott - $68,619,436

The 44-year-old Australian has been a model of consistency throughout his long career. In 413 starts he has made 346 cuts and won 14 times, including The Masters, had 16 runner-ups finishes, 11 thirds, 65 top fives and 115 top 10s.

7. Justin Rose - $66,638708

No English golfer has more victories on the PGA Tour than Rose. The former US Open champion has won 11 times in 432 starts, missing 95 cuts. But he has made up for the missed cuts with 16 runner-ups, 15 thirds, 71 top fives and 114 top 10s. He also won the FedEx Cup in 2018.

8. Jordan Spieth - $63,562,963

Spieth has won The Masters, The Open and the US Open and is a former world number one. There was a slump after he won The Open at Royal Birkdale but there have still been 13 wins in 287 starts and he has made 231 cuts, with 18 second places, 11 thirds and 55 top fives. Just needs the US PGA to complete the career grand slam. Won the FedEx Cup in 2015.

9. Justin Thomas - $62,924,964

Like Spieth, Thomas has struggled with his form. Nevertheless, he has won 15 times, including the US PGA on two occasions, and has made the cut on 203 of his 248 starts. There have been nine seconds, 13 thirds, 56 top fives and 85 top 10s. Won the FedEx Cup in 2017.

10. Jason Day - $62,872,235

Another former world number one, Day, from Australia, is a former US PGA champion who has struggled with injury. Has made 361 starts and made the cut on 279 occasions, winning 13 times, finishing second 11 times, third seven times, top five on 57 occasions and in the top 10 on 97 occasions.