I think people are vastly over-estimating how much prize money Jack Nicklaus was winning. His grand total from winning his first 5 Masters -- an unprecedented f

I think people are vastly over-estimating how much prize money Jack Nicklaus was winning. His grand total from winning his first 5 Masters -- an unprecedented feat -- was $120,000. Golf in his era wasn't even close to the sport today where #112 on the money list is a over a million bucks. Golfers also have a huge built-in cost structure that team athletes don't. Coaches, caddy, doctors, are all paid for by the golfer. Team plane and team hotel? Nope, golfers pay their own travel expenses. Guaranteed contracts? Lol. If you don't perform, you don't get paid. Any injury -- major or minor -- that would sideline an MLB or NBA player (at full pay), means zero revenue for the golfer. It's no surprise that golfers seek out sponsors,.not just for the extra income but to provide some income stability and to offset all these enormous costs.