For years, we have witnessed Tiger Woods embellish the role of an icon in golf. His achievements in the last two decades speak for themselves, as did his sponsorship revenues. But the dawn of the LIV Golf Series has heralded an unknown force, from which Phil Mickelson has emerged as the headliner. However, the highly anticipated SportsPro’s 100 Most Marketable Athletes list is out now, and the highest-ranked golfer on the list is none other than 33-year-old Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy emerges higher than Tiger Woods & Phil Mickelson

The Northern Irishman was ranked 48th on the list of the most marketable athletes for the year 2022. While Rory McIlroy didn’t win any major championships last season, his efforts on and off the pitch were rewarded with the highest ranking for a golfer.

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However, the exclusion of legends such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson has raised eyebrows. None of the two were included in the top 100 list despite enjoying a wide fanbase.

For the record, Mickelson was quite vocal about the friction between him and the PGA Tour before eventually switching to LIV for a record fee. While his performances didn’t merit a standing, the 52-year-old has been in the news throughout the year for his crucial decision.

The same can’t be said about Woods, though. The 15-time Major Championship winner contested only in three tournaments this year with the best position being 47th. It’s been a silent epoch for the once-trailblazer of the sport, who is recuperating from the injuries he suffered during the single-car rollover crash in 2021.

Who tops the SportsPro’s Most Marketable Athletes list?

The annual list of the world’s most marketable athletes intends to deliver a concise report to brands and companies regarding a player’s marketability in various domains. The players are ranked based on three parameters – Brand Strength, Audience and Reach, and Economics.

This year, soccer superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been ranked the most marketable athlete in the world. The 5-time Ballon d’Or winner tops the metrics with an astounding score of 91.21, which is at least 20 points more than his closest challenger.

Winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena Williams, is ranked second on the list, followed by British F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton. 37-year-old LeBron James stands in fourth place, while Argentinian soccer team captain, Lionel Messi, rounds off the top 5.

What are your thoughts on these rankings? Let us know in the comments down below.