Rory McIlroy Closing in on Tiger Woods' All-Time PGA Tour Earnings Record in 2026
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods looks on from the 16th hole tee during the second round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA on February 16, 2018. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire) GOLF: FEB 16 PGA Golf Herren - Genesis Open PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon180216041
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods looks on from the 16th hole tee during the second round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA on February 16, 2018. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire) GOLF: FEB 16 PGA Golf Herren - Genesis Open PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon180216041
Rory McIlroy is closing in on one of Tiger Woods' biggest records, although it has nothing to do with major championships or PGA Tour victories.
The World No. 2 is just $4.55 million away from Woods' all-time PGA Tour earnings record. He could very well do that this month if he comes out on top in his postseason.
McIlroy is currently competing at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where the winner will take home $3.6 million. Even if he doesn't close the entire gap this week, he will have another major opportunity at the BMW Championship.
McIlroy won his second straight Masters title earlier this year and took his PGA Tour wins tally to 30. At the moment, he has acquired a whopping $116.44 million on the American circuit. Woods’ record of $120.99 million is in touching distance.
The 150th Open Golf Championship St Andrews 150th Open Golf Championships, St Andrews, July 11th 2022 Tiger Woods left and Rory McIlroy wave to the houses as they walk up the 18th fairway during the R&AÕs Celebration of Champions challenge at the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland. Credit: Ian Rutherford St Andrews The Old Course Fife Scotland Copyright: xIanxRutherfordx 103110
The 150th Open Golf Championship St Andrews 150th Open Golf Championships, St Andrews, July 11th 2022 Tiger Woods left and Rory McIlroy wave to the houses as they walk up the 18th fairway during the R&AÕs Celebration of Champions challenge at the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland. Credit: Ian Rutherford St Andrews The Old Course Fife Scotland Copyright: xIanxRutherfordx 103110
The BMW Championship offers another $3.6 million to the winner. A strong finish in Memphis followed by a victory at the BMW Championship would give McIlroy enough additional earnings to move past Woods, according to Belfast Live's Eamon Doggett.
McIlroy will also have a major opportunity at the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, where the winner will receive the $10 million top prize.
A victory there would put him well beyond Woods' earnings mark if he hasn't already surpassed it earlier in the postseason.
Surpassing Woods would make McIlroy the PGA Tour's all-time leading career money winner, despite still trailing the 15-time major champion in PGA Tour victories.
On top of that, Woods acquired his earnings through three decades while McIlroy is just closing in on two decades on the American circuit.
However, by the end of the postseason, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also has a high chance of reaching the top.
Scottie Scheffler's earnings surge could beat McIlroy to record
Scottie Scheffler's proximity to McIlroy on the all-time PGA Tour earnings list makes the record chase even more intriguing. Despite turning professional 11 years after McIlroy, the World No. 1 is already close to covering the financial gap.
Scheffler turned professional 11 years after McIlroy, yet he has earned within $100,000 of the Irishman's PGA Tour career total in just 167 events, according to Belfast Live's Eamon Doggett.
At the moment, the World No. 1 has the lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship after 54 holes. If Scheffler holds on to it, he’ll snatch McIlroy’s spot on the list.
With the kind of consistency Scheffler has been demonstrating, it’s not unlikely that he racks up a good finish at the BMW Championship.
McIlroy may have the clearest path to catching Woods, but Scheffler's rapid rise has turned the earnings race into a two-player chase.
With the FedEx Cup postseason still unfolding, Woods' record could fall before the month is over, with the question now being whether McIlroy or Scheffler gets there first.
Written by
Avishek Sarkar
Edited by
Rudra Dubey