Richest Golf Players

    10. Stewart Cink
    £16.4m ($25,869,950)

    Perhaps the least-known player in this gallery, you can catch up with Cink's antics and thoughts on golf clubs at http://twitter.com/stewartcink His five PGA tour wins bely a consistent appearance in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings over the years - which can't have hurt his wallet.

    9. Justin Leonard
    £17.9m ($28,159,502)

    Leonard describes himself as a conservative player, though his 45-foot putt to secure victory for the Americans in the 1999 Ryder Cup was anything but dull. Carries a pocketknife in his golf bag and has won 12 PGA Tour titles. His most lucrative performance this year was at the Accenture Match Play Championship, Arizona, where he picked up £171,500 ($270,000) for fifth place.

    8. Kenny Perry
    £18.4m ($28,901,701)

    Picked up a cool £686,000 ($1,080,000) this year for coming first at the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona and a further £419,000 ($660,000) for coming second in The Masters in Augusta. Perry gives a generous five per cent of his winnings to a university in Nashville to provide scholarships.

    7. David Toms £19.2m
    ($30,201,220)

    Coming second at Sony's Hawaii Open earned him a nice £302,000 ($475,200) earlier this year. Yet it's not all about grabbing the green. In 2003, he created the David Toms Foundation, which helps underprivileged children and raised over £950,000 ($1.5m) for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

    6. Ernie Els £21.9m
    ($34,432,511)

    Known as "The Big Easy" for his languid swing, Ernie has won three majors in his career, and has designed three golf courses, too. Off course, he pockets over £8m a year.

    5. Davis Love III £24.3m
    ($38,312,135)

    Trawl through his Twitter postings (http://twitter.com/Love3d) and you'll see that Love loves to spend his time (and money) riding motorcycles. Has won only (*cough*) $1m so far this year.

    4. Jim Furyk
    $40,148,229

    Known as the Grinder for his unusual golf swing, Furyk's best earner so far this year was third place at the CA Championship, which won him £299,000 ($470,000). Won the US Open in 2003.

    3. Phil Mickelson
    £34.2m ($53,761,536)

    Mickelson is called 'Lefty' for his left-handed swing, which once swung the ball into a spectator, breaking the latter's wristwatch. Sadly Mickelson is currently off the tour, due to health issues concerning his wife, Amy. Off the course he is reported to earn above £20m a year.

    2. Vijay Singh
    £38.9m ($61,206,967)

    His name means 'victorious lion', and the first part of the epithet rings true. He has won 34 PGA events, including three majors. Despite - or perhaps due to - having a bad boy reputation, the Singh brand earns him around £13m off the fairway.

    1. Tiger Woods
    £53.7m ($84,521,189)

    Forget victorious lion, it's Victorious Eldrick - better known as big game 'Tiger' - the winner of 14 major titles. Deals with the likes of General Motors, American Express and Nike mean Tiger earns above £50m a year off the course.