This week marks 25 years since Tiger Woods turned professional. PGA Tour prizemoney is perhaps the most glaring example of the impact he has made to golf during that past quarter of a century, in particular the FedEx Cup, which was created in 2007 and offers the most lucrative payout in sport. But even more glaring is how little some of the current players make of such a big prize.
Enter Cameron Smith. The 28-year-old Queenslander has three PGA Tour titles and career on-course earnings of just less than $US17 million in the US. That includes earning more than $US1 million on Monday despite losing a playoff at the Northern Trust to Tony Finau. And that doesn’t include all the other money he’s earned around the world and through sponsorships.
In other words, it’s good to be a PGA Tour star these days. How good? When asked what he’d do with the $15 million prize for winning the FedEx Cup ahead of this week’s BMW Championship, here was Smith’s plan. Or, rather, his lack of one. “I don’t know. I’m pretty set, to be honest,” Smith said. “I’m good. I’m good with what I’ve got. I don’t know what I’d do, to be honest. Maybe some more fishing equipment.”
“Maybe some more fishing equipment?” So… using the earnings from playing a game to fund your favourite hobby? Must be nice, am I right?
Seriously, kudos to Cam for being so honest and for acknowledging how comfortable he is. Oh, and from Cam and the rest of those in the field this week: thank you, Tiger.
PHOTO: Tracy Wilcox
