Tiger Woods games generate $500 million in US

This week's release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour puts golf series over half-billion mark domestically; athlete himself will rack up $1 billion in career earnings by next year.

This week, EA Sports shipped Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, the latest installment in its long line of licensed golf games to feature the titular athlete. Though US sales figures for the PSP, Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 games won't be available until mid-July, the game has apparently helped the series reach an impressive milestone.

That's a whole lot of green...

Shortly after the NPD Group released its US game-sales figures for May--which showed an alarming 23 percent year-over-year decline--the industry-tracking firm's top gaming analyst sent out a more upbeat Twitter post about the golf franchise. "Tiger Woods video games have sold over half a billion $ at U.S. retail life-to-date," declared Anita Frazier.

The PGA Tour game series is just one of many sources of income for Woods, who, after being sidelined with injuries for much of 2008, has won two tournaments so far this year. According to a July 2008 Forbes article, the 33-year-old athlete was on track to rack up over $1 billion in career earnings sometime this year. In 2007, the magazine estimated he earned $115 million.

46 Comments

  • Axcel_94

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 1:16 pm GMT

    @haksawjimthuggn I think he was being sarcastic.

  • zinoalex

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 9:27 pm GMT

    The Tiger Woods games are cool.Non golfers and glofers both find them enjoyable.I have not played them all so I have a question: Does anyone know if the Latrobe Country Club course is on any of the games.It was on Links 2000 which MS did. That is one of courses designed by Arnold Palmer and is only a mile or two from where he resides.

  • shloobonya

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 12:05 pm GMT

    Where is the Tiger Woods 10 Review? It's been over a week since it came out, and this site has no reviews. Gamespot is slipping. That's why I hang over at the competition's site now, they are a lot more prompt with their game reviews.

  • 2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 12:28 pm GMT

    @ shani_boy101 Yes but they only make one game a year for each installment. Activision makes probably 30ish games a year for guitar hero and all they are changing are the songs. EA may have started the whoring trend but Activision has taken it to an uncomparable level. I would take Madden 10 or tiger woods 10 over guitar hero 6000 any day.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 1:04 am GMT

    those EA sports devs have it easy compared to everyone else. all they have to do is create the game and engine for the first installment, then spend less than 1/5 of the time and effort other game devs do into incrementally improving the game each year.

    thats why all these EA sports games sell, as long as the first game's good, its practically impossible to screw up anything that follows.

  • Yoshilila

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 11:03 pm GMT

    What the..... If there really is a god and he makes me meet up with woods one day than I will only have one question "can I have like... a million $ from you" and then I would just have to hope that god makes my wishes come true^^

  • dbpvivi

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 6:13 am GMT

    This is why these games are always the same. Why change something that sells.

  • skullboy950

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 2:04 pm GMT

    Good lord! 500 million!? Seriously!!? 0_o

  • Col-Neil

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 1:06 pm GMT

    Guess it pays to be a pro golfer now eh lol

  • haksawjimthuggn

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:57 am GMT

    @ Sweendrix...

    what contributions does tiger make to society besides some money for charities? He isnt an integral part of our society AT ALL. That title should be given to our doctors, teachers, safety and law enforcement officials. I'm not trying to be corny but it's true. He isn't the reason America is what it is WHATSOEVER.

  • alosborne

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:47 am GMT

    Wow

  • RedChuckz

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:28 am GMT

    boobush even fat people can play golf thats why is not a sport so what you call football then man you got fat asses playing it to

  • xbox4life76

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:08 am GMT

    I'm on the fence with this one. I was thinking of seeing how good the new Wii Sports golf game will be and see if that satisfies my golf craving. I'm looking for a simple way to play golf for my parents and sisters and friends.

  • tig1979

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:58 am GMT

    Golf is a hard game on the body, i did a couple of hours on a driving range with a bud, my arms felt like i had done 25 rounds of boxing, i'm generally pretty fit too!!

  • ZedX-14Pilot posted Jun 12, 2009 9:05 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ZedX-14Pilot

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:05 am GMT (hide)

    Congrats Tiger! You know, I think Tiger is the only athlete we as a society don't mind seeing gettin' paid? Weird, huh? When a baller gets paid, we all pretty much hate that guy for a while. But when Tiger get's paid, we just smile and say 'YOU'RE THE MAN TIGER!'. LOL

    To jshaas, golfers ARE NOT athletes! Golf, like baseball, is a game, not a sport. While I commend Tiger for staying in shape and improving the image of golf (not to mention having a hot wife doesn't hurt the image either! lol), if golfers were athletes, John Daly wouldn't be playing on the weekends. As for baseball players, if you can't run ninety feet without pulling a hammy, you ARE NOT an athlete. While golf and baseball are great games, they ARE NOT sports.

  • onthe_dl

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:03 am GMT

    yeah i play college golf and theres no fat guys. golf has evolved since tiger set the bar for everyone to catch up with. the next generation of golfers are all over 6" lanky and are in the process of bulking up.

  • Sweendrix posted Jun 12, 2009 8:18 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Sweendrix

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:18 am GMT (hide)

    Cause Tiger Deserves it...he deserves 1 billion dollars for being good at Golf. Seriously...all of the hard working Americans out there should bow down before him because...he is certainly one of the most important contributors to our society.

  • maaly81

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:54 am GMT

    gOSH DOGGIT!!! He doesnt have to even touch a golf club ever again......or look at one. All he will do is waste money on Orlando Magic Season tickets and watch them lose to Lakers in Finals. hahahah

  • haksawjimthuggn

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:47 am GMT

    Tiger=Walking Federal Reserve

  • boobush posted Jun 12, 2009 7:21 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    boobush

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:21 am GMT (hide)

    Toughest athletes mentally? They are not athletes. Even if you're fat or something like that you can play it. It not a sport. Next time they'll consider pool and chess a sport. Just because it has championships don't make it no sport. But seriously, I'm amazed of how much dough it made. Just wow, man.

  • johajo

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:34 am GMT

    @onthe_dl: I agree, it's a game where a 2 cm putt is as much worth as a 220m shot.

  • Itsthetruth

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:15 am GMT

    i think Tiger Woods 10 with wii motion + will be a noticeable spike in their sales. Noone usually cares about golf games but this one has everyone talking about it!

  • onthe_dl

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 4:50 am GMT

    all i can say is golf is a sport. golfers are some of the toughest athletes mentally. I've seen people miss putts which mean they lost 10 grand and have to wait an other year for qualifying school to make it to the big show. it's all you on the golf course, no team you can sub in.

    it's a game of inches played over miles

  • jshaas

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 4:03 am GMT

    @Carpe_Noctum
    @PabloEscobar20

    It's clear that neither one of you guys have ever played golf. If you had, you would know that it's one of the most difficult sports to play. To be as good as Tiger is, you have practice all day, every day. To say that golfers are not athletes, or to say that golf is just a walk in the park... is just dumb. Have you seen this guy play... he's built like a defensive back too! And they do sweat... quite a bit... especially when they have to play four days in 90+ degree heat.

  • ftjx

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 2:43 am GMT

    the Wii version with motion+ will will help that number double

  • kiraburu

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 1:16 am GMT

    say what???????''

  • pgmonkeeuk

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 11:40 pm GMT

    I'm so jealous on two counts.....one for not having Woodsy's money / ability and two, having to wait until July 3rd for 2010 to come out in the UK. Grrrr!

  • ssk187

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 11:17 pm GMT

    That is ridiculous! Go Tiger!! I know... so corny.

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 11:02 pm GMT

    I didn't even like golf video games, but I went ahead and picked Tiger 10 up with Wii Motion +, and now I'm a fan. I can see why analysts are upbeat about it's sales for June since the Wii version has redefined what a golf game should be.

  • RedChuckz

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:56 pm GMT

    zphyrsvn seriously have u ever watch real football so called soccer they run for 45 min straight and then 10 min break then another 45 while in American football they take breaks what every second and check out dudes in tights and basketball well i like basketball so ill let that slide please next time use common sense.

  • lordliubei

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:54 pm GMT

    zphyrsvn, I like how you begin to make a bit of an exaggeration about soccer players with the phrase, "let's be honest." I understand you're trying to make a point. I just thought that was kind of funny.
    Do they really wear silk shorts? I always thought they were rayon or something.

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:52 pm GMT

    Ima gonna getit.

  • zphyrsvn posted Jun 11, 2009 10:45 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    zphyrsvn

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:45 pm GMT (hide)

    @PabloEscobar20:

    Lets be honest here. Soccer players walk through a park with silk shorts on and fall down whenever they get within a a few feet of another person. Basketball and Football don't deserve the degradation of being associated with soccer. Use that brain of yours when you can...

  • Excedra

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 9:34 pm GMT

    lucky him

  • AdmiralDan

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 9:33 pm GMT

    @ Carpe_Noctum
    The man has more physical prowess and skill than you have. Golf is a sport and thus its players are athletes.

  • ropumar

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 9:31 pm GMT

    "That's a whole lot of green..." @Carpe_Noctum
    "athlete"... heh... funny

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 9:10 pm GMT

    A bit of a typo there, "athlete".

  • kemar7856

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:20 pm GMT

    wow really!!!!!!

    richest athlete gets richer

  • SmashingX

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:15 pm GMT

    cool, even though i stay away from sports games, if ou enjoy golf, seems more logical to grab a club and hit the course.

  • halosniper52

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:05 pm GMT

    Tiger 10 is kick@$$ baby. Also ya GS final paragraph there got it little wrong lol.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:01 pm GMT

    Tiger Woods is the top golf sim out there, this is no surprise.

  • volcomstoner180

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 6:53 pm GMT

    they are great games...i know i have had quite a few starting from 99 for PC...but maybe tiger could share a few bucks?

  • endocrine

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 6:26 pm GMT

    Two PGA tour victories are two major victories. While they are not Majors, they are major (You have to be a great golfer to even have a chance to win a minor PGA tourney). Any golf person knows the difference, any non golf person pry doesn't care.

  • kinsey12

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 5:12 pm GMT

    Is there any way to get the wording in the final paragraph changed? It says "major tournaments" which can be misleading. Tiger hasn't won a "major" yet this year, though he has two PGA tour victories...

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