PGA Tour lucrative bonus list as Rory McIlroy tops list of 20 most popular stars

23 November 2023 , 17:15

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Rory McIlroy topped the Player Impact Programme (Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy has topped the PGA Tour's lucrative Player Impact Programme for the first time in his career, earning a cool £12 million ($15m) bonus to end the year. McIlroy came out on top of the list for the first time since its formation in 2021, replacing 82-time PGA Tour winner Tiger Woods at the top.

The programme rewards the players that generate the most positive interest in the PGA Tour, which is often measured via social media presence. It was yet another rollercoaster year for the Northern Irishman, who won twice in 2023, at the Dubai Desert Classic and Genesis Scottish Open.

McIlroy was also the star of the show at the Ryder Cup, winning four of his five points across the weekend to lead Team Europe to their seventh straight win on home soil.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy beats Tiger Woods to £12m PGA Tour bonus for first time in career

Away from the course McIlroy was once again embroiled in the saga surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which took an unexpected turn in the summer. In June the Tour announced they had reached a framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) which would unify them with their LIV rivals.

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Nobody was left more shocked with the American-based circuit's u-turn than McIlroy, who admitted he was left feeling like a 'sacrificial lamb' on the back of the decision. In the aftermath McIlroy opted to take a step back from off-course dealings to concentrate on his golf.

This culminated in him quitting his role as a player director on the PGA Tour's Policy Board, as he announced his resignation at last week's DP World Tour Championship.

PGA Tour lucrative bonus list as Rory McIlroy tops list of 20 most popular stars

Tiger Woods finished behind Rory McIlroy (Harry How/Getty Images)

Despite a recent limited schedule, Woods had collected the £12 million top-spot in 2021 and 2022 amid his ever present stature within the sport. And whilst he lost out on first place this time around, he was still rewarded with a £9.6 million ($12m) payout despite playing in just two events so far this year.

The third spot was taken by Masters champion Jon Rahm, who earned a cool £7.2 million ($9m). Rahm's reward comes just a day after it was reported he was in talks to join LIV Golf. According to Bunkered, the chances of the green jacket winner joining imminently is 'way off the mark', he is said be 'closer to joining than he has been before'.

There are a number of other big names across the other 17 to make the list, with the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood all taking a share of the £80 million ($100m) pot. A full list of the 20 winners can be found below.

1: Rory McIlroy - £12 million

2: Tiger Woods - £9.6 million

3: Jon Rahm - £7.2 million

4: Jordan Spieth - £6 million

5: Scottie Scheffler - £4.8 million