Richest Golfer at 2025 Ryder Cup Revealed and It's Not Scottie Scheffler

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 3:40 PM ET

Scottie Scheffler’s run over the past two years has kept him firmly at the top of the PGA Tour mountain: seven wins in 2024 (including a major), six in 2025 (including two majors), 33 top-10 finishes across both campaigns and another season leading the Tour’s official money list (his fourth straight).

Scheffler accumulated roughly $27.66 million in PGA earnings for 2025 and moved up the Tour’s all‑time money ranks, with his $194.34 million in career earnings second only to Rory McIlroy ($207.43 million), according to Spotrac.

These accomplishments have kept him world No. 1 for 158 straight weeks and made him the highest‑profile American on Team USA for the highly anticipated Ryder Cup, which tees off Friday.

Despite all of this, Scheffler still isn't even the highest-paid golfer competing in the event, according to Forbes.

Forbes reported on Thursday that Jon Rahm is actually the highest-paid golfer, with an estimated $99 million in total earnings this year; Scheffler's earnings are placed at about $90 million.

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Rahm, by contrast, was winless in individual LIV Golf events in 2025, but his string of high finishes enabled him to claim the Individual Points Championship, which comes with an $18 million bonus.

He earned about $13.61 million in regular LIV prize payouts, per Spotrac. Add on endorsements, major appearance money and other income streams, and Forbes estimates his full earnings at $99 million, with $89 million coming from the course.

Rahm’s LIV season provided large, concentrated payouts plus ongoing commercial deals, producing overall higher 12‑month earnings despite Scheffler’s dominant run in majors and signature PGA events this year.

The Ryder Cup, while offering no tournament prize money, now stages a clash not only of teams but of competing commercial models in golf.

Team USA is headlined by Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and others, with Keegan Bradley as the captain.

Team Europe, meanwhile, will be led out by Rahm, McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry and company, with Luke Donald as captain.

The Ryder Cup begins at 7 a.m. ET Friday. It will be televised on USA and streamed on Fubo and rydercup.com.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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