How much does money motivate golfers?

I've got to think the reasons golfers don't think about it - is that there are other golfers out there doing the same thing. Better to go out and try to shoot the best score you can and see what it gets you. Golf is the kind of game where the more you try to surpass your abilities, the more you will undermine your abilities.

 

Yes, yes and yes.

 

And 179 made 300K or more.

And this doesn't count any endorsement money to wear the swoosh, a dimpled ball provider, an investment firm logo or a luxury automobile company's logo.

The guy's on this tour--I don't think purse money is a primary driver. Someone just starting out on the big boy tour and those on the minor league tour--they're probably squeezing the grips on every shot when they're 10 shots off the lead, knowing a swing either way might be mortgage payments for the next six months.

 

But again, if you leave the A and B-list realm, you would really be surprised what little money (comparatively) a card-carrying PGA Tour guy is getting from a ball/club/apparel deal. There's this idea that if you have endorsements, it must be some sort of major supplement. If you're Tiger, it is. If you're Mark Marc Turnesa or Eric Axley ... probably not.

And as DanOregon said, when you're talking about the best players in the world, how many times are they going to check out mentally while the money (top 15 is usually about the 100K mark) is still good? If it's the difference between 66th and 72nd - literally a $5,000 difference or less - sure, but I'm sure all these guys aren't exactly fiddle-fartin' around when they're in solid money range.

 

The money list is just gross revenues, not net. Not so much for the year end but keep that in mind for the weekly checks. Remember also, from the gross, caddie fees (5-10%) and agent fees (same) immediately come off the top, then there's Uncle Sam as well.

Its kind of like a divorce, you think you're making a huge amount of $$, but then there are all these deductions for child support, alimony, etc., and you're living not like that big time exec. in the 5 bdrm mansion but like the receptionist who's renting that townhouse.