DETROIT, (Reuters) – Professional golfer Tiger Woods 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 yesterday.
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.
Overall, the average earnings for the entire U.S. list rose 11 percent to a record $26.2 million, and were up 1.7 percent to $30 million for 20 international stars, according to SI.com.
Tennis star Roger Federer, at $61.8 million, bumped soccer player David Beckham from the top spot he had held the last 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.
