Greg Norman still on top of golfing world with big earnings

MORE than 12 years after he won his last event, a skins game in California against Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie and Jesper Parnevik, Greg Norman is still raking it in off the course.

The 57-year-old came in at No.8 on Golf Digest's list of the top 50 earners in the game in 2012 with a handy US$17 million.

Income was not only calculated from tournaments, but also areas such as endorsements, corporate speaking, course architecture, books, clothing and wine.

That explains why Arnold Palmer ($36 million) and Jack Nicklaus ($28 million) came in at three and four respectively.

Heading the list were Tiger Woods ($86.12 million) and Phil Mickelson ($45.33 million), while new world No.1 Rory McIlroy was fifth with $22million.

He will no doubt be the big mover next year after signing a huge endorsement deal with Nike last week.

Adam Scott was the highest-placed Australian still playing the game, coming in at No.14.

He earned $10.8million, more than half of that coming from off course endeavours.