Tiger Woods will collect $54.6 million from endorsement deals this year. And it will surprise no one that this is three times what the second-placed player will receive. But the really interesting thing is that the second-placed player happens to be none other than Arnold Palmer, who will be 72 next September.

According to Golf World in the US, Pennzoil, Cooper Times and Office Depot are among 20 endorsements which will earn Palmer $18 million this year. In fact he is the only golfer who can match Woods' appeal to non-golfers.

Also fascinating is that the third man on the list happens to be another player some way past his prime. Greg Norman, who was 46 last Saturday, will earn $16 million through endorsements with 15 companies, including Titleist, Reebok and Chevy Trucks.

The others in the top-10 are: Phil Mickelson ($7 million); Davis Love and David Duval ($6 million each); Jack Nicklaus, Colin Montgomerie, Tom Watson and Jumbo Ozaki ($5 million each). Montgomerie's earnings would be appreciably higher, however, were all of his European endorsements included.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that a player finishing around 80th on the USPGA Tour money list this year will be guaranteed overall earnings of $1 million - $650,000 from prize funds and the remainder from endorsements.