Even with Tiger Woods resembled a shell of his former dominant self, his earnings power among professional golfers has been second to none. Until now.
Forbes posted a list of the world's highest-paid athletes - the 2015 version - and for the first time in his professional career, Woods wasn't the most-compensated golfer in the world.
That honor went to Phil Mickelson, whose $50.8 million in earnings over the past year eclipsed Woods' $50.6 million. The most intriguing aspect in the comparison of the two golfers is that Woods still made more money in endorsements.
Mickelson surpassed Woods on the strength of the $2.8 million he earned on the golf course, compared to the paltry $600,000 Woods made. In ranking athletes overall, Mickelson checked in at No. 8, with Woods right behind him at No. 9.
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Boxer Floyd Mayweather was the top earner at $300 million overall -- $285 million of which came by salary and earnings. Manny Pacquiao was second at $160 million, including $148 million in salary.
Woods also was No. 2 among professional athletes in endorsement compensation a5 $50 million. Roger Federer was No. 1 with $58 million in endorsements.
No. 1 player in the world, Rory McIlroy, was third in golf and 12th overall at $48.3 million earned. He made $32 million in endorsements.
Woods' earnings - both on and off the golf course, figure to remain flatlined after he finished last among the field that made the cut at the Memorial with a 14-over 302 that included a career-worst, 13-over 85 in the third round on Saturday.
"Joey (LaCava) keeps telling me this past week, he kept reminding me, 'Man, take it easy on yourself; you haven't played much golf,'" Woods told ESPN.com via satellite as part of the Quicken Loans tournament media day on Monday.
"You never played last year and you haven't played much this year. Tournament golf takes time.
"I hate to say it when he's right, because as a player you always want to be right, but he is right."
Until he rights the ship, Woods may not see No. 1 again in several categories on the PGA Tour.
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