Lee Trevino once said, “Pressure is playing for ten dollars when you don't have a dime in your pocket.” That may still be true, but getting and keeping a PGA Tour Card will pucker you up as well. More than ever, a PGA Tour Card is an incredibly valuable thing. Based on the fact that it takes almost a million dollars in winnings each year just to keep it, any one of the 125 PGA Tour Cards is worth at least that and a lot more if you are able to hang on to yours.
Consider that Tiger Woods pocketed $10,867,052 in winnings in 2007, Phil Mickelson grabbed another $5,819,988 for his efforts and another five guys made more than $4 million. Now look at career earns where Tiger has already earned $76,579,376, Vijay Singh $54,108,218, Phil Mickelson $45,334,026 and another 75 guys have earned more than $10 million in their careers. As Bunker Hunt once said, “A million here and a million there and pretty soon you’re talking about some serious money.”
Don’t get me wrong I’m not against athletes making big money. As a matter of fact, I think golfers, who are basically independent contractors, actually deserve their winnings. It’s win or go home. Actually, it’s make the cut or go home but that’s splitting hairs.
Now none of this includes endorsements and other stipends that are available. Did you know that Titleist pays every guy on Tour that plays their ball each week, every one of them. Footjoy does the same with gloves and shoes. A few years ago I calculated that anyone who can make the field of a tournament makes at least $2,500 a week playing and wearing the right stuff. The trick is making the field, huh?
There’s a survey taken each week at each event asking every player about clubs (drivers, fairway, irons, hybrids, wedges and putters), shafts (driver, fairway, irons and hybrids), ball, grips, shoes, and underwear. Okay, I made up the part about underwear. From that weekly count club makers, ball guys, and shaft manufactures along with every other golf gadget lives and dies. If the right guy plays your club it’s worth millions. If you lose the right guy you just might lose your job.
The perks at the tournaments aren’t bad either. It starts with a free car for the week, Cadillac, Mercedes and who knows what else. Then there are tickets and luxury boxes just for the asking. You want to see Mavericks play? No problem. You like the Stones? Here’s your backstage pass. And the food and gift packages fill up your locker. As they say, to whom much is given, more is given each week.
It’s a great life, if you’re a great player. It’s a pretty damn good life if you’re a good player come to think of it. When is the last time you hit balls on the range and never had to bend over to put your own ball on the tee? Which reminds me, did you know that Tiger Woods brings his own range balls to each tournament? It’s true, and after the balls are picked up some poor soul has to sort through them and return the Nike balls to Tiger.
Yep, it is good to be the king in any job including sports.
So what’s at stake in this final week of the PGA Tour? What’s on the line at the Nationwide and Q-school in this final week? It’s a king’s ransom; fame and fortune; your picture on a Wheaties box; a date with Britney Spears; hosting Saturday Night Live; a stack of money ten-feet tall; and don’t forget the free golf balls.
Pressure? Maybe just a little.
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