Woods losing grip atop list of highest-earning athletes

New York: Phil Mickelson is making a run at surpassing fellow golfer Tiger Woods as the top-earning U.S. athlete, according to an annual survey released by Sports Illustrated on Thursday. Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, owner of a record 16 grand slam titles, led non-Americans on the list and was followed closely by Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao. [caption id=“attachment_27384” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Phil Mickelson is catching up to Tiger Woods in the money stakes. AFP”]  [/caption] Woods, whose image was tarnished by a sex scandal, was the top earner for the eighth consecutive year but his winnings and endorsements dropped 31 percent in the 2011 survey to $62.3 million while Mickelson remained steady at $61.2 million. Among Americans, the NBA’s LeBron James ($44.5 million), NFL’s Peyton Manning ($38 million) and Major League Baseball’s Alex Rodriguez ($36 million) rounded out the top five. Federer kept his top position among non-U.S. athletes despite slipping 14.5 percent to $52.8 million, third overall, while WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao shot 38 percent higher to $52.5 million for fourth overall. Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso ($45 million), Barcelona’s Lionel Messi ($43.8 million) and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo ($38.8 million) rounded out the top five on the international list. The magazine based its figures on salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees. Reuters