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PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy cracks 100 million in prize money – hunt for Tiger Woods begins

Rory McIlroy passes the 100 million dollar mark in prize money and reaches a new career milestone. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy passes the 100 million dollar mark in prize money and reaches a new career milestone. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy has reached another milestone in his impressive career: the Northern Irishman is only the second player in the history of the PGA Tour to pass the 100 million dollar mark in official prize money. Only Tiger Woods was able to break this mark before him. But how did McIlroy achieve this historic success, and can he even overtake Woods in the coming years?

Rory McIlroy’s recent successes bring crucial millions

A decisive factor in McIlroy’s financial success was his victory at the 2025 Players Championship. In a nerve-wracking play-off, he secured the title and the prize money of 4.5 million dollars from a total pool of 25 million US dollars.

Another lucrative highlight was his triumph at the 2024 DP World Tour Championship. With a final score of 15 under par and a flawless final round, McIlroy secured the prize money of 3 million dollars and further increased his financial cushion.

How prize money is transforming golf

McIlroy’s monetary success is not just a personal triumph, but also an indicator of the increasing commercialization of golf. Increasing sponsorship deals, growing media coverage and higher prize money have made the PGA Tour one of the most lucrative sports leagues in the world in recent decades.

McIlroy already topped the European Tour’s money list in 2018 after finishing in a tie for second place at the Open Championship. This took him over the €35 million mark in prize money on the European Tour.

Can McIlroy overtake Tiger Woods?

Despite McIlroy’s impressive financial record, Tiger Woods remains unrivaled with over 120 million dollars in official PGA Tour prize money. However, the rising prize money and McIlroy’s consistent performance could make the race for the number one spot in the money rankings exciting in the coming years.

At 35, McIlroy is at a stage where many golfers reach their financial peaks. If he continues to strategically participate in tournaments that pay out large prize money, he could actually catch up with Woods in the next few years.

McIlroy as a giant of golf

Rory McIlroy has played his way into the exclusive league of golf millionaires through a combination of sporting ability, strategic tournament planning and economic foresight. The coming years will show whether he can break Tiger Woods’ 120 million dollar mark. But one thing is certain: McIlroy is not just a top golfer – he is a brand in his own right.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Player deliberately hinders leading flight

(Screenshot: Instagram/@Skratch)
(Screenshot: Instagram/@Skratch)

Alejandro Tosti started together with Min Woo Lee and Ryan Fox in the final flight of the PGA Tour’s Houston Open, but seemed very unhappy with his two playing partners.

Tosti clashed with Ryan Fox on the very first hole when Tosti took his time to drop his ball, reported course reporter Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay. A few holes later, however, the situation turned around: Min Woo Lee’s tee shot on hole 8, a par-5, landed under a bush. After the ball was found, it took Lee seven minutes to play it after considering various options, including hitting the ball on his knees. In the end, he decided to declare the ball unplayable. It took the flight a total of 30 minutes to complete just this one hole.

Tosti: Slow play in protest

Tosti then appeared to complain to a rules official about Lee’s pace of play. However, when no consequences followed, the Argentinian took matters into his own hands and seemingly deliberately played slowly to hold off the final flight and Lee, who was fighting for victory. A video from the broadcast shows Tosti just stepping on the fairway while Lee had almost reached his ball. At this point, Tosti himself was seven shots behind Lee at the top, with no chance of victory.

PGA Tour: Scheffler und McIlroy in Top 10 bei Min Woo Lees Sieg
 
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‘I don’t know what’s going on, but Tosti plays at his own pace,’ Mackay described the scene. ‘Sometimes it’s normal. Sometimes it’s glacially slow. But on this particular hole, he’s decided to really take his time, and he’s holding up play in this last group.’

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Rickie Fowler Joins Star-Studded Houston Open

The PGA Tour Tee Times of the American Contingent. (Photo: Getty)

The PGA Tour rolls into Texas this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open, hosted at the ever-challenging Memorial Park Golf Course. With a par-70 layout and a purse of $9.5 million, this event is no mere warm-up—it’s a serious proving ground, especially with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Stephan Jaeger headlining a stacked field.

PGA Tour Tee Times: Americans in Action

Lanto Griffin will take to the course at 12:30 in the first round, playing alongside Chad Ramey and France’s Victor Perez. Their second round starts at 07:20. ​

Patrick Rodgers is set to begin his first round at 12:52 with compatriots Nate Lashley and Patrick Fishburn. They will tee off for the second round at 07:42. ​

The spotlight shines brightly on Rickie Fowler, who tees it up on Thursday at 13:03 alongside Scottie Scheffler and Sungjae Im. They’ll head out early on Friday at 07:53.

Tony Finau is paired with Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and Belgium’s Thomas Detry, teeing off at 13:14 for the first round. Their second round begins at 08:04.

Round Time Player 1 Player 2 Player 3
1 12:30 Lanto Griffin Chad Ramey Victor Perez
1 12:52 Patrick Rodgers Nate Lashley Patrick Fishburn
1 13:03 Rickie Fowler Scottie Scheffler Sungjae Im
1 13:14 Tony Finau Stephan Jaeger Thomas Detry
2 07:20 Lanto Griffin Chad Ramey Victor Perez
2 07:42 Patrick Rodgers Nate Lashley Patrick Fishburn
2 07:53 Rickie Fowler Scottie Scheffler Sungjae Im
2 08:04 Tony Finau Stephan Jaeger Thomas Detry

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: McIlroy Headlines Star-Studded Field in Houston

The PGA Tour Tee Times of the British Contingent. (Photo: Getty)

As the PGA Tour shifts from the Florida Swing to Texas, all eyes turn to Memorial Park Golf Course for the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The par-70 layout in the heart of Houston hosts one of the spring season’s key stops, offering a $9.5 million purse and a competitive field that includes defending champion Stephan Jaeger and world number one Scottie Scheffler. And Rory McIlroy returns to the event for the first time in over a decade.

PGA Tour Tee Times: The British Players

Danny Willett, representing England, starts his first round at 7:42 AM with Trey Mullinax from the USA and Mac Meissner also from the USA. For the second round, they will tee off at 12:52 PM.

Rory McIlroy opens his Houston campaign at 7:53 AM on Thursday alongside Americans Maverick McNealy and Wyndham Clark, with the same trio set to tee off again at 1:03 PM on Friday.

Harry Hall of England will tee off his first round at 8:37 AM with Mackenzie Hughes from Canada and Chris Gotterup from the USA. Their second-round tee time is at 1:47 PM.

Matt Wallace, also from England, starts at 1:25 PM for the first round with Gary Woodland from the USA and Matt McCarty from the USA. His second round will begin at 8:15 AM.

Aaron Rai from England tees at 1:36 PM with Adam Svensson from Canada and Seamus Power from Ireland. His second round is scheduled for 8:26 AM.

Paul Waring of England begins his first round at 2:31 PM alongside Jeremy Paul from Germany and Noah Kent from the USA. The second round will be at 9:21 AM.

Round Time Player Nationality Playing Partners
Round 1 7:42 AM Danny Willett ENG Trey Mullinax (USA), Mac Meissner (USA)
Round 1 7:53 AM Rory McIlroy NIR Maverick McNealy (USA), Wyndham Clark (USA)
Round 1 8:37 AM Harry Hall ENG Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Chris Gotterup (USA)
Round 1 1:25 PM Matt Wallace ENG Gary Woodland (USA), Matt McCarty (USA)
Round 1 1:36 PM Aaron Rai ENG Adam Svensson (CAN), Seamus Power (IRL)
Round 1 2:31 PM Paul Waring ENG Jeremy Paul (GER), Noah Kent (USA)
Round 2 8:15 AM Matt Wallace ENG Gary Woodland (USA), Matt McCarty (USA)
Round 2 8:26 AM Aaron Rai ENG Adam Svensson (CAN), Seamus Power (IRL)
Round 2 9:21 AM Paul Waring ENG Jeremy Paul (GER), Noah Kent (USA)
Round 2 12:52 PM Danny Willett ENG Trey Mullinax (USA), Mac Meissner (USA)
Round 2 1:03 PM Rory McIlroy NIR Maverick McNealy (USA), Wyndham Clark (USA)
Round 2 1:47 PM Harry Hall ENG Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Chris Gotterup (USA)

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PGA Tour

World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy on his way to Nr. 1?

Rory McIlroy is closing the gap on Scottie Scheffler in the World Golf Ranking. (Photos: Getty)
Rory McIlroy is closing the gap on Scottie Scheffler in the World Golf Ranking. (Photos: Getty)

For a long time, nothing has changed at the top of the world golf rankings: one name has been there for 95 weeks – Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler’s exceptional season in 2024 gave him a huge lead in the OWGR ranking. He was the undisputed leader and for a long time it looked as if no one could even come close to challenging him. But with his victory at the Players Championship 2025 and the title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February of this year, Rory McIlroy is getting closer and closer – and it actually seems possible now that he could overtake Scheffler and take back the top spot.

World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy is gaining ground on Scottie Scheffler

Mathematically, McIlroy could become the world number one again in just one month: if he wins both the Masters and the RBC Heritage and Scheffler performs poorly at both tournaments, McIlroy could soon call himself the best player in the world again.

The Northern Irishman has already announced that he will play in the Houston Open (March 27-30) before the Masters. But even a victory there would not be enough to take the top spot in the world rankings with a Masters victory – there are not enough world ranking points for that. In addition, Rory McIlroy is increasing his lead in the Ryder Cup qualification list: he is well ahead of Tyrrell Hatton in second place among the first-qualified players.

The top 10 of the world ranking otherwise remained stable after the Players Championship, with the exception of Tommy Fleetwood, who rose one place to 9th place, and Justin Thomas, who fell to 10th place.

See the complete World Golf Ranking
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PGA Tour

Players Championship 2025: High Prize Money for Rory McIlroy

The prize money at the Players Championship 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy wins one of the most prestigious titles on the PGA Tour—along with an unprecedented prize purse. A staggering $25 million was up for grabs at the Players Championship 2025 at TPC Sawgrass, making it the richest regular-season tournament on the circuit. McIlroy will walk away with an eye-watering $4.5 million, while the runner-up collects $2.725 million and the third-place finisher $1.725 million. Even a top-10 finish secures a payout of at least $681,250, and those finishing as far back as 40th place will still pocket a six-figure sum.

Prize money at the Players Championship has increased dramatically over the years. When Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event in 1974, he pocketed just $50,000. Today, that amount wouldn’t rank inside the top 40.

As always, the tournament is contested on the iconic Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. The layout is best known for its signature par-3 17th hole, where the island green has played a decisive role in countless finishes.

Check Out the Full Leaderboard of the Players Championship 2025

FedExCup Points and Career Incentives

Beyond the massive prize money, 750 FedExCup points are on offer for the winner, a boost in the season-long race to the Tour Championship. Before the tournament Sepp Straka sat atop the standings, but a strong performance in Sawgrass could dramatically shake up the leaderboard.

Victory at The Players also comes with long-term perks: a five-year PGA Tour exemption, a guaranteed spot in all four majors for the next three years, and an invitation to The Sentry, where the year’s tournament winners kick off the new season. The champion also claims 80 Official World Golf Ranking points, just 20 points shy of what the four major winners will receive this year.

FinishPlayerPrize Money
1Rory McIlroy$4,500,000
2JJ Spaun$2,725,000
T3Tom Hoge$1,325,000
T3Akshay Bhatia$1,325,000
T3Lucas Glover$1,325,000
T6Danny Walker$843,750
T6Corey Conners$843,750
T6Bud Cauley$843,750
9Robert MacIntyre$731,250
T10Collin Morikawa$656,250
T10Davis Thompson$656,250
T12Patrick Cantlay$556,250
T12Jake Knapp$556,250
T14Aaron Rai$418,750
T14Denny McCarthy$418,750
T14Tommy Fleetwood$418,750
T14Sam Ryder$418,750
T14Sepp Straka$418,750
T14Alex Smalley$418,750
T20Shane Lowry$240,250
T20Ryan Fox$240,250
T20Keegan Bradley$240,250
T20Joe Highsmith$240,250
T20Matt McCarty$240,250
T20Daniel Berger$240,250
T20Scottie Scheffler$240,250
T20Min Woo Lee$240,250
T20Max McGreevy$240,250
T20Stephan Jaeger$240,250
T30Russell Henley$163,750
T30Harris English$163,750
T30Will Zalatoris$163,750
T33Rico Hoey$136,250
T33Kurt Kitayama$136,250
T33Justin Thomas$136,250
T33Taylor Moore$136,250
T33J.T. Poston$136,250
T38Si Woo Kim$111,250
T38Justin Lower$111,250
T38Davis Riley$111,250
T38Taylor Pendrith$111,250
T42Hayden Springer$81,688
T42Matt Kuchar$81,688
T42Billy Horschel$81,688
T42Jesper Svensson$81,688
T42Mac Meissner$81,688
T42Tom Kim$81,688
T42Chris Kirk$81,688
T42Ryan Gerard$81,688
T50Beau Hossler$63,500
T50Jacob Bridgeman$63,500
T52Byeong Hun An$60,750
T52Sahith Theegala$60,750
T54Matthieu Pavon$58,250
T54Carson Young$58,250
T54Charley Hoffman$58,250
T54Camilo Villegas$58,250
T54Joel Dahmen$58,250
59Jordan Spieth$56,750
60Jhonattan Vegas$56,250
T61Trey Mullinax$54,500
T61Cameron Young$54,500
T61Sungjae Im$54,500
T61Will Chandler$54,500
T61Chandler Phillips$54,500
T61Austin Eckroat$54,500
67Emiliano Grillo$52,750
68Isaiah Salinda$52,250
T69Sami Valimaki$51,500
T69C.T. Pan$51,500
71Rickie Fowler$50,750
72Xander Schauffele$50,250
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PGA Tour Uncategorized

Double ace on the 17th hole and a dip in the water

One ace, one jump (Photo: Twitter@PGATour)
One ace, one jump (Photo: Twitter@PGATour)

The excitement ahead of the 51st edition of the Players Championship could hardly be greater. Even before the “fifth major” officially begins at the TPC Sawgrass in Florida, two hole-in-ones on the legendary 17th hole cause a stir – one by a tournament debutant, the other by a caddie.

Premiere ace for Tosti and a dip into the water

The 28-year-old Alejandro Tosti experiences an unforgettable start to his first Players Championship. On Wednesday afternoon, during his practice round, the Argentinian hits a 52-degree wedge from 121 meters. The ball lands behind the flag, rolls back – and disappears into the hole! Tosti’s joy is boundless, and he keeps his promise: He jumps into the water full of enthusiasm. The crowd roared as he resurfaced and raised his arms; his caddie helped him out of the pond and they hugged on the lawn. It was the first hole-in-one of his career – and he was also making his debut at the Players Championship.

“I’ve been telling people that if I make it in the hole on 17, I’m going in the water, so I had to 100% go in the water, and I was so happy, and really cool to have that moment today.”

First ace in the history of the Caddie Challenge

But Tosti wasn’t the only one with an ace on the day. JJ Jakovac, Collin Morikawa’s caddie, made history when he hit the first hole-in-one in the 26-year history of the Caddie Challenge. His pitching wedge shot spun smoothly back towards the hole and triggered a real celebration. Never before had a caddie managed to hit an ace on this legendary hole.


The Caddie Challenge is a firm Players Championship tradition. Every year, the caddies swap their usual role for a moment and compete on the par-3 17th hole themselves.

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PGA Tour

Tiger Woods likely to miss Masters due to injury

Tiger Woods at the 2024 Masters in Augusta. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods at the 2024 Masters in Augusta. (Photo: Getty)

Tiger Woods will in all likelihood not be taking part in this year’s Masters Tournament. The reason for this is an injury that he sustained while training at home – a torn Achilles tendon.

“As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured,” the 49-year-old said in a message on Instagram and X.

The minimally-invasive surgery took place on Tuesday morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida. “The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery,” said the attending doctor, Dr. Charlton Stucken.

Tiger Woods: Comeback delayed by multiple setbacks

Woods is now at home and focused on recovery. Although he has not shared his plans concerning the Masters, it is considered unlikely that he will take part in the first major of the year, which begins in just over four weeks. The traditional tournament at Augusta National Golf Club will be held for the 89th time in April – Tiger Woods has won it five times, most recently in 2019.

It has been eight months since his last appearance in an official PGA Tour tournament. He played the British Open at Royal Troon in July. Since then, his tour comeback has been postponed again and again for various reasons. A return to the Masters seemed realistic, but now it has receded into the distance. With the injury to his Achilles tendon, Woods’ comeback remains uncertain.

The 15-time major champion has a long history of injuries: In April 2023, he competed in the Masters but had to withdraw during the third round. In the same month, he underwent surgery on his right ankle for post-traumatic arthritis, a result of his serious car accident in 2021. In September 2024, he had surgery on his lower back due to spasms and pain. Woods has been struggling with back problems on and off since 2014.

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PGA Tour

Who’s the Favorite to Claim the Players Championship 2025?

Players Championship 2025: Who's the Favorite to Win? (Photos: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler has dominated the Players Championship for the past two years. In 2025, he has the opportunity to make history as the first player to win three consecutive titles at TPC Sawgrass. But with a strong field set to challenge him, can anyone break his stranglehold on the tournament?

Scottie Scheffler: The Quest for a Historic Three-Peat

For the past two years, TPC Sawgrass has belonged to Scottie Scheffler. He cruised to a five-shot victory in 2023 and followed it up with a 20-under-par performance in 2024 to successfully defend his title. Now, he stands on the brink of a historic three-peat. However, unlike previous years, Scheffler enters without a win this season. His results—third at the Genesis Invitational and a top-10 at Pebble Beach—suggest he’s close, but not quite at his dominant best. A win at The Players would mark his first title of 2025—and reinforce his standing as the player to beat at Sawgrass.

Rory McIlroy: The Prime Contender?

Few players boast the pedigree of Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship. A past champion in 2019, the Northern Irishman knows how to navigate TPC Sawgrass under pressure. Recent course modifications—extended yardages and thicker rough—could play to his strengths, as he remains one of the best tee-to-green players on Tour. If anyone is poised to disrupt Scheffler’s reign, it’s McIlroy.

Collin Morikawa & Ludvig Åberg: The Next Generation

Collin Morikawa enters The Players in excellent form, though he has yet to secure a win. Yet, in 2025, he has found himself in the frustrating position of being consistently close, but not quite over the line. Runner-up finishes at Maui and Bay Hill, the best ball-striker on Tour this season – if he can close out a tournament, Sawgrass could be the breakthrough moment.

On the other hand, Ludvig Åberg is no longer just a promising young talent—he’s a serious contender. The Swede finished eighth in his Players Championship debut last year and has already claimed a PGA Tour victory in 2025. With expectations now higher than ever, the question remains: Can Åberg handle the heat over four grueling rounds?

Schauffele’s Window of Opportunity

Xander Schauffele has been close to lifting the Players Championship trophy before. He finished second in 2024, missing out by a single shot, and also recorded a runner-up finish in 2018. His consistency is undeniable – he currently holds the longest active made-cut streak on the PGA Tour – but the question remains whether he can finally turn those near-misses into a victory.

Sepp Straka: The Dark Horse

He may not attract as many headlines, but Sepp Straka has quietly built an impressive resume. A winner at the American Express Championship earlier this season, and a fifth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational propelled him into the world’s top 15. Could he be the dark horse to watch at Sawgrass?

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PGA Tour

Players Championship Tee Times: The World’s Top Three in One Group

The Players Championship Tee Times. (Photo: Getty)

When the best golfers in the world arrive in Florida, one thing is certain: It’s time for the Players Championship. TPC Sawgrass is set for four days of elite competition, with a $25 million purse, a world-class field, and a course that challenges even the greatest players. Scottie Scheffler has the chance to make history by becoming the first golfer to win three consecutive Players Championship titles. However, with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele in his group, the tournament will be anything but a walk in the park.

Players Championship Tee Times: McIlroy, Scheffler & Schauffele in One Group

The Players Championship is contested on one of the toughest courses in the world – the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Tight fairways, deep bunkers, and lightning-fast greens test every aspect of a golfer’s game. And then there’s the 17th hole, the legendary island green that delivers high drama year after year. A perfect shot can shift momentum, while a mistake can end title hopes. In 2024, the course has been lengthened by nearly 70 yards, making the challenge even greater.

The tee times for the opening round have been released, and one grouping stands out: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele will play together. The trio will tee off at 1:29 PM on Thursday from the first hole, followed by an early start at 8:24 AM on Friday from the 10th tee. And by the time they reach the 17th, nerves could be running high.