Bryson DeChambeau is on the rise, however Rory McIlroy stays the anticipated cash king of golf

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States waves on the 13th green during the second round of the 2021 PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at the Kiawah Island Resort on May 21, 2021 on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Sam Greenwood | Getty Images

Rory McIlroy remains the predicted money king of golf, and Bryson DeChambeau is on the rise, according to a new study of the future earnings of PGA Tour players under the age of 50.

New York-based leading financial advisory firm, Duff and Phelps, estimates that McIlroy, 32, will earn $ 401 million in his career by the age of 50. McIlroy tops a talented list of golfers on the Future Career Value (FCV) 2021 list. Duff and Phelps estimate that the top 10 golfers, including DeChambeau, will collectively make $ 2.15 billion by the time players are 50. That’s $ 1.89 billion from the list’s opening year during the pandemic.

In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Mark Mondello, the company’s managing director of the company’s ratings service, said player performance on the golf course and estimated confirmation scores are critical metrics in determining the list.

“It’s trend-setting,” said Mondello. “It relied on detailed statistical analysis and mathematical modeling to arrive at these results,” which also influenced the popularity of the player’s brand off the pitch.

Duff and Phelps estimate that McIlroy has approximately $ 300 million in sponsorship revenue, including deals with Nike, Electronic Arts, and sporting goods manufacturer TaylorMade.

US golfer Justin Thomas, the 2021 PGA Players Championship winner, ranks second on the list with an estimated career profit of $ 299 million. And DeChambeau, perhaps the most intriguing player on the list, moved up five spots to third due to his increasing popularity, with a forecast of $ 225 million in career earnings.

Bryson is building its brand

Mondello, who heads Duff and Phelps’ global sports and entertainment division, said the company employs many golf fans. They used their rating resources to create the leaderboards that could help companies identify prospective golfers they would like to sponsor. Mondello added the company used “basic time value of money and risk adjustment factors” to forecast the earnings of 60 male golfers under the age of 50.

“We agreed on a rate of 10%, but there are many factors to keep in mind as there is a risk that someone could achieve these projected earnings over time,” Mondello said. “That’s what we do when we value a company or asset – we forecast future cash flows and then discount them to their present value.”

Xander Schauffele and Dustin Johnson are the other two golfers expected to top $ 200 million. They are fourth and fifth on the 2021 list. Collin Morikawa ($ 197 million), Jon Rahm ($ 169 million), Viktor Hovland ($ 163 million) round out the six to eight places.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his stroke from the 14th tee during the continuation of the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 04, 2021 in Dublin, Ohio.

Andy Lyons | Getty Images

However, DeChambeau is currently one of the most talked about players on the PGA Tour. DeChambeau, 27, weighs 6 feet-1,235 pounds according to his PGA Tour profile and looks more like a professional soccer player or wrestling figure than a golfer.

DeChambeau has unique support with a top sports betting company DraftKings. And his notoriety will only grow as he attends Turner Sports’ upcoming The Match golf event with National Football League star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and PGA Tour icon Phil Mickelson.

DeChambeau turned pro in 2016 and has eight career PGA Tour wins including the US Open last September. He has made $ 24 million in his career and will attempt a rerun of the US Open this month at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. With 49 events held in 2021, DeChambeau is currently fifth in the world according to the Official World Golf Ranking.

And DeChambeau is also embroiled in a golfer feud with PGA Tour player Brooks Koepka, who ranks 10th on the list with $ 144 million. The tension seemed to mount at the PGA Championship last month during a media interview.

DeChambeau, however, downplayed any problems with Koepka but said it was “good for the game”. Still, the feud helps DeChambeau with another metric – PGA Tour’s newly installed Player Impact Program. It is an incentive plan that distributes $ 40 million among high-profile golfers whose popularity helps build the PGA Tour brand and increase attendance at events.

“He has a tremendous future,” Mondello said of DeChambeau.

Tiger Woods plays his swing from the second tee during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando on December 20, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.

Mike Ehrmann | Getty Images

What about Tiger Woods?

Again, the list only includes golfers under the age of 50, so Mickelson is not counted. The trial begins with the recognition of Mickelson, who won the PGA Championship in May 2021, making him the oldest player to win a major PGA Tour major.

When asked if Mickelson was younger – around 49 – what his rank might be, Mondello predicted he would be among the best, adding, “He (Mickelson) is still a relevant golfer on the course, and he just has a lot of support. “

The other relevant golfer – Tiger Woods – took ninth place in this year’s FCV ranking. Woods, 45, is expected to earn $ 150 million over the next five years until he joins Mickelson and is no longer accepted. Until then, Mondello said Woods’ income from endorsements should help keep his ranking up.

Woods is currently rehabilitating from a serious car accident in February but has returned to the field of video game sponsorship. He agreed to a license agreement with Take-Two Interactive to use his name, image, and likeness and be featured on the company’s new golf game, PGA Tour 2K. It’s the first time since 2013 that Woods has appeared in a video game.

“He generates so much value,” Mondello said of Woods. “Although in our study he will only raise $ 150 million over the next five years, he is still in our top 10.”

Read Duff and Phelps’ full golf review here.