Despite Scarcely Playing, Tiger Woods Gets A $8 Million Reward For Stimulating Media Interest

Tiger Woods has been awarded $8 million (£5.99 million) for generating more media interest than any other golfer in 2021, despite the fact that he only competed in one tournament.

Woods is the PGA Tour's first Player Impact Program winner (PIP).

The program was created to reward athletes who increased interest in the American circuit.

Despite not playing an official tour event in over a year, the former world number one has a lifetime earnings on the tour of more than $120 million (£89.96 million).

In 2021, he only competed in an exhibition parent-child event in December.

Although tour officials first said that the PIP findings would not be made public, the 10 players who benefitted were revealed in a communication to PGA Tour members.

Phil Mickelson incorrectly claimed in December that he had won the largest portion of the $40 million prize pool. He came in second to Woods and was awarded $6 million.

With his triumph at the US PGA last year, the 51-year-old became the oldest major winner.

Rory McIlroy, who has won $63 million on the PGA Tour, Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson each received $3.5 million from the program, which is based on criteria that measure a player's ability to generate interest.

Following a review of internet searches, articles, social media, sponsor exposure, and awareness among the US population, auditors Grant Thornton confirmed the results.

In February 2021, Woods was gravely injured in a car accident and did not appear in public for the rest of the year. In late November, a Twitter post showed him hitting golf balls with the caption "making progress" had 7.8 million views.

A month later, the 15-time major champion competed in the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. After shooting 11 consecutive birdies in the final round, they finished second.