THE RYDER CUP tees off on Friday with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka amongst those aiming for glory.
Europe and the USA are set to battle it out over three days of thrilling golf at Marco Simone in Rome.
Rory McIlroy’s £200million fortune dwarfs that of rival Jordan SpiethSportsfile
GettyBrooks Koepka is one of the stars of Team USA[/caption]
No prize money is on offer at the Ryder Cup, though, but it is not like the players need it.
Here, our Ryder Cup rich list reveals the big swingers in action at this year’s event.
Team Europe
Rory McIlroy – £200m
Four-time major winner McIlroy is understood to be the richest player on Team Europe.
According to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, the Northern Irishman is worth £200million.
His staggering net worth has even made him the UK’s richest sportsperson aged under 35.
Sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike have boosted McIlroy’s wealth.
Meanwhile, he has also picked up millions in career prize money thanks to his major victories and PGA Tour wins.
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Justin Rose – £30m
EPAJustin Rose has an estimated net worth of £30million[/caption]
Fellow Ryder Cup veteran Justin Rose has amassed an estimated net worth of £30million during his career.
He has built up much of his wealth playing on the European and PGA Tours.
Rose has also been sponsored by both TaylorMade and Adidas during his time as a professional.
However, he recently left both brands, replacing them with Bonobos and Honma, respectively.
When he is not on the course, Rose enjoys luxurious surroundings at his mansion in The Bahamas.
He even has an amazing trophy room at his home, which has been fitted with a backlit wall-to-wall cabinet.
Shane Lowry – £18m
GettyShane Lowry’s net worth is boosted by his ambassador role with the Bank of Ireland[/caption]
Ireland’s Shane Lowry has enjoyed a successful career since turning pro in 2009, winning The Open Championship four years ago.
He added to his trophy haul last September by winning the BMW PGA Championship and scooping over £1million in prize money.
His success on the course has seen Lowry amass a reported net worth of £18million.
The 36-year-old has also been able to become one of his country’s highest-earning athletes thanks to his sponsorship deals.
They include acting as a brand ambassador for the Bank of Ireland, amongst other endorsements.
Jon Rahm – £16.5m
AlamyLucrative endorsements have given Jon Rahm a reported £16.5million net worth[/caption]
Jon Rahm is set to appear at his third Ryder Cup in Italy this weekend.
The Spaniard previously tasted success with Team Europe last time they hosted the tournament in 2018.
Meanwhile, he has also picked up two major wins, including the Masters at Augusta earlier this year.
His major wins have helped build a £16.5million net worth along with a string of lucrative endorsements.
Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and Callaway are amongst the brands to have partnered with Rahm during his career.
Viktor Hovland & Tommy Fleetwood – £12.5m
ReutersViktor Hovland is worth an estimated £12.5million[/caption]
PATommy Fleetwood is tied with Hovland on the Team Europe rich list[/caption]
European duo Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood both come in fifth on their rich list with a reported net worth of £12.5million.
Despite neither of them winning a major yet in their careers, both have a string of European Tour victories.
Hovland has also snapped up six PGA Tour wins, including this year’s BMW Championship and Tour Championship back in August.
The Norwegian’s net worth was boosted by those wins, along with the support of sponsors Cisco, PING and Lexus.
As for England’s Fleetwood, he can count Nike, BMW and Tag Heuer amongst his endorsement deals.
Captain: Luke Donald – £33m
Team Europe captain Luke Donald is worth £33millionRichard Pelham / The Sun
Team Europe will be captained by four-time Ryder Cup winner Luke Donald this weekend.
The 45-year-old won all four of his appearances in the event as a player before replacing Henrik Stenson as captain.
He also has 17 professional wins, five of which have come on the PGA Tour.
Overall, his performances on the course and endorsement deals have helped Donald acquire an estimated net worth of £33million.
Team USA
Jordan Spieth – £90.5m
Jordan Spieth tops the Team USA rich list with an estimated £90.5million net worthSportsfile
Despite being Team USA’s richest player, Jordan Spieth’s fortune is still dwarfed by that of McIlroy.
The three-time major winner is understood to have net worth of £90.5million.
Having turned pro whilst still a teenager, Spieth is already set to play in his fifth Ryder Cup at just 30-years-old.
Spieth is believed to earn a large chunk of his fortune from his endorsement deals with the likes of Rolex and AT&T.
However, he has also invested his money in English football, buying a minority stake in Leeds back in June alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Thomas.
Justin Thomas – £50m
Justin Thomas has invested in Leeds United alongside SpiethSportsfile
Thomas is once again not far from Spieth as he comes in behind him on our rich list.
The 30-year-old has a reported net worth of £50million, boosted by his second major win at last year’s PGA Championship.
As well as endorsements, Thomas has invested in several businesses of his own.
Along with his stake in Leeds, the American has put money into LivPur Nutrition and fitness brand WHOOP.
Notably, McIlroy is another athlete with links to WHOOP, alongside LeBron James and Michael Phelps.
Brooks Koepka & Scottie Scheffler – £41m
AFPScottie Scheffler’s £41million net worth ties him with Koepka[/caption]
Koepka and Scottie Scheffler are tied at third place in the Team USA rich list.
The duo have both amassed a reported wealth of £41million during their careers.
2022 Masters champion Scheffler has built much of his fortune through endorsements, whilst also donating thousands to charity.
Meanwhile, five-time major winner Koepka joined LIV Golf in 2022, pocketing a healthy sum as part of his deal.
He has since won two LIV Golf events across their first two seasons.
Rickie Fowler – £33m
AFPRickie Fowler has been sponsored by Rolex and Puma during his career[/caption]
Despite opting against investing in Leeds with McIlroy and Thomas, Rickie Fowler still boasts an impressive net worth.
The Team USA star is worth a reported £33million after 14 years as a pro.
Despite never winning a major, Fowler has a solid catalogue of sponsors and endorsements.
During his career, he has had deals with the likes of Rolex, Puma and Mercedes-Benz.
Patrick Cantlay – £20m
Endorsements have taken Patrick Cantlay’s net worth to an estimated £20millionSportsfile
Patrick Cantlay has enjoyed a strong emergence over the last five years, including four top 10 finishes at Majors.
He also earned a spot at the 2021 Ryder Cup as Team USA reclaimed the trophy at Whistling Straits.
His rise to the top of the sport has seen Cantlay become more attractive to potential sponsors.
The 31-year-old has had endorsement deals with Hugo Boss and Goldman Sachs among other brands.
Those sponsorships have helped bring his net worth to an estimated £20million.
Captain: Zach Johnson – £29m
Zach Johnson will captain Team USA in RomeSportsfile
With the support of vice-captains Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Fred Couples and Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson will lead Team USA in Rome this weekend.
The 47-year-old is a veteran of five previous editions, finishing on the winning side just once back in 2016.
Johnson has also won two Majors, with a total of 26 wins to his name as a professional.
Those victories have helped him build an estimated £29million net worth.
Endorsement deals with the likes of Titleist and EA Sports have also built Johnson’s fortune.