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Tiger Woods still top-earning athlete

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-23 08:42

DETROIT - Professional golfer Tiger Woods has been off his game since his extramarital affairs were exposed last year, but he is still the world's highest earning athlete, according to two lists released on Wednesday.

Tiger Woods hits a tee shot on the second hole during the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, in this July 16, 2010 file photo. The golfer has been off his game since his extramarital affairs were exposed last year, but he's still the world's highest earning athlete, according to 2010 rankings released on Wednesday. Woods claimed the top spot on a U.S. list of 50 athletes for the seventh consecutive year, though his total earnings fell 10 percent to $90.5 million, according to Sports Illustrated's SI.com. His total is also down 40 percent from $127.9 million in 2008. [Agencies]

Woods claimed the top spot on a 2010 US list of 50 athletes for the seventh consecutive year compiled by Sports Illustrated's SI.com, though his total earnings fell 10 percent to $90.5 million. His total is also down 40 percent from $127.9 million in 2008.

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Woods also topped Forbes magazine's 2010 list of the top 50 earning athletes in the world at $105 million, down 4.5 percent from last year as the star golfer has lost such sponsors as Accenture Plc and AT&T Inc. It is the ninth consecutive year he has topped the Forbes list.

Overall, the average earnings for the entire US list at SI.com rose 11 percent to a record $26.2 million, and was up 1.7 percent to $30 million for 20 international stars.

Tennis star Roger Federer, at $61.8 million, bumped soccer player David Beckham from the top spot he had held the past two years on the international list, SI.com said.

Woods' earnings for the 2010 list are comprised of $20.5 million in earnings and $70 million in endorsements from such sponsors as Nike Inc and Electronic Arts Inc, SI.com said. Woods' endorsement earnings fell $22 million from last year's list.

Woods' personal life took center stage after a car accident outside his Florida home last November brought to light extramarital affairs and led him to make a public apology. He has played several tournaments since his April return from a self-imposed, five-month exile but has yet to win.

Rival golfer Phil Mickelson came in second on the 2010 US list at $61.7 million, and the top 10 included four players from the National Basketball Association, led by LeBron James at No 4 ($45.8 million), SI.com said.

The top 10 also included boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr (No 3 at $60.3 million), two Major League Baseball stars, including Alex Rodriguez at No 5 ($37 million), and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning of the National Football League (No 9 at $30.8 million), SI.com said.

On the international list, Federer jumped from No 9 last year as his earnings doubled, while Beckham slipped to No 3 at $40.5 million behind FIFA world soccer player of the year Lionel Messi at $44 million, according to SI.com.

Rounding out the international top five were soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo ($40 million) and boxer Manny Pacquiao ($38 million), SI.com said.

Basketball player Allen Iverson, No. 8 on last year's U.S. list, dropped entirely out of the top 50, SI.com said. Tennis player Maria Sharapova was the only female athlete to make either list, ranking No 20 on the international list at $19.9 million.

Rounding out Forbes' top five were boxer Mayweather ($65 million), NBA star Kobe Bryant ($48 million), Mickelson ($46 million) and Beckham ($43.7 million). Federer ($43 million), James ($42.8 million) and Pacquiao ($42 million) were next on the list, which previously ranked the top 20.