Scottie Scheffler is closing in on a PGA Tour record that Tiger Woods has held after one of the most successful careers in golf history.
The remarkable part is how quickly Scheffler has gotten there.
The world No. 1 is now barely $1 million behind Woods on the PGA Tour’s all-time money list, despite having played 210 fewer events than the 15-time major champion.
Woods turned professional in 1996 and has competed in 378 PGA Tour events, collecting $120,999,166 in career prize money. His 82 PGA Tour victories remain a much tougher target for Scheffler, but the financial gap between the two players has suddenly become extremely small.
Scheffler’s $3.6 Million Victory Changes the Picture
Scheffler moved within range following his dominant performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday.
The 30-year-old ended a seven-month wait for his second victory of the season by cruising to an eight-shot win at TPC Southwind. The margin was the largest in the tournament’s 68-year history and came with a substantial reward: $3.6 million.
That payday increased Scheffler’s earnings for the 2026 season to $20.5 million.
More significantly, it pushed his career PGA Tour earnings to approximately $119.96 million. Scheffler has reached that figure in only 168 starts since turning professional, meaning he has earned more than $700,000 per PGA Tour start.
And he could pass Woods almost immediately.
The PGA Tour heads to Bellerive this week for the BMW Championship, another $20 million event carrying a $3.6 million first-place prize. Scheffler enters as both the defending champion and the bookmakers’ favorite.
A victory would comfortably move him beyond Woods on the career money list.
Another Huge Payday Awaits at the PGA Tour Championship
Even without winning at Bellerive, Scheffler will have another opportunity at the season-ending Tour Championship. That event features a $40 million purse, including $10 million for the winner.
Scheffler has also already secured a $23 million bonus heading into the Tour Championship. His FedEx St. Jude victory guaranteed that he will finish first in the season-long points race with one tournament remaining.
The comparison with Woods changes dramatically when you consider victories rather than dollars.
Sunday’s triumph was Scheffler’s 21st PGA Tour win. Woods accumulated 82, leaving Scheffler 61 victories behind one of golf’s most imposing career records.
But the difference in tournament starts remains striking. Scheffler has needed just 168 PGA Tour appearances to reach nearly $120 million in earnings, while Woods played 378 events over his career.
Why Scheffler’s Money Record Needs Some Context
Of course, the comparison comes across very different eras of PGA Tour prize money. Tournament purses and winner payouts have increased substantially since Woods began his professional career three decades ago, allowing today’s leading players to accumulate career earnings at a much faster rate.
Still, the official money list is about to have a new leader if Scheffler maintains his current pace.
Rory McIlroy sits third with $116.5 million in career earnings, putting Scheffler ahead of another of his generation’s most successful players.
For now, Woods remains No. 1 at $120,999,166. But with Scheffler less than $1.1 million behind and two enormous purses still available before the season ends, that record could change hands within days.
