Rory tops British sport icons’ rich list

FORMER WORLD NO. 1, HOWEVER, MISSES THE CUT AT PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN FLORIDA

Former world No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy is the richest young sportsperson in Britain and Ireland with a net worth of £110 million ($149.14 million, Dh546.9 million), according to the Sunday Times newspaper’s rich list.

McIlroy’s earnings have been boosted by his return to form in recent weeks, though he suffered a setback as he missed the cut — along with Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and five-time majorwinner Phil Mickelson at the ongoing Players Championship on Friday.

Last year, the 29-year-old signed two 10-year endorsement deals worth $100 million each, with sportswear brand Nike and club manufacturer TaylorMade.

Tennis player Andy Murray is second in the rankings, with the Scot’s wealth estimated at £83 million.

A relatively modest £6 million increase on the threetimes grand slam winner’s valuation from 2017 reflects his absence from the court after suffering a hip injury at last year’s Wimbledon championships.

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero are in the third and fourth spots respectively.

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, who most recently earned £18 million from his title bout with Joseph Parker, completes the top five.

Back-to-back bogeys

World No. 6 Fowler had to use a pair of binoculars in unsuccessfully trying to locate his golf ball in a palm tree on the sixth hole at TPC Sawgrass — his 15th of the day.

He ended up with the first of back-to-back double-bogeys, his one-under round of 71 giving the 2015 winner of the tournament a one-over total that saw him miss the cut by two shots.

McIlroy went into his second round at one-under par but after six straight opening pars the Northern Ireland star found himself outside of the cut-off mark with backto-back bogeys at the seventh and eighth. Four birdies and two more bogeys from the ninth through the 16th saw him arrive at the 17th even for the day and flirting with the cut.