TOP GUN

Rory McIlroy, the world number one golfer, has climbed from humble beginnings to the very top of the sport. Today the Irish athlete and UNICEF ambassador looks down from on high at all who seek to topple him — raking in winnings and accolades along the way.

With a career among the most lucrative in golf history, the London Sunday Times put his net worth at about US$170 million in 2019. His tournament appearance fees (said to topUS$2 million apiece) and winnings (such as the 2019 Fedex Cup where he won a cool US$15 million) are just part of his estimated annual earnings of about US$40 million, making him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

As is often the case with true winners, the trappings and financial rewards are not what drive McIlroy. Perhaps easily said when you are on a roll and have deals with the likes of Nike, TaylorMade, and Omega watches. And while the need to win is what drives