Fred Couples' victory in the Houston Open this week propelled him from 42nd to eighth on the US PGA's money winners' list.
Couples, who broke down in tears during a television interview after his four-shot win, is the big climber this week. His winnings are US$1,370,494 ($2,450,936).
That pales alongside the top
three, Davis Love, Mike Weir and Tiger Woods. Love has picked up $3,685,645, Weir $3,286,625 and Woods $3,067,250.
New Zealand's most successful player of the year is Phil Tataurangi, who is 70th with winnings of $342,083. Craig Perks is 82nd with $276,100, Steve Alker is 128th with $134,471. Michael Campbell and Grant Waite are at the tail with $30,000 and $27,340. They sit 188th and 191st respectively.
The reason for Couples' tears? It could have been that it was the 1992 Masters champion's first tournament win in five years, or it could have been the knowledge that he was back in the world top 50, at 29th, for the first time since March, 2001.
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Prize money for this year's Volvo PGA championship will total a record €3.5 million ($6.9 million), making it the third richest event on European soil.
The British Open, with a prize fund of €5.478 million, and the Dunhill Links Championship, with a fund of €4.528 million, are the only tournaments in Europe which will offer more money this season.
The PGA championship, scheduled to take place at Wentworth Club from May 22-25, is the flagship event on the European Tour and will benefit this year from an increase of €327,720 over last year's amount.
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Korean Se Ri Pak became the first two-time winner on the LPGA Tour this week with her fourth playoff hole win over Shani Waugh at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in Atlanta.
It was also her 20th career victory.
Pak, who collected US$202,500 for the win, also moved to the top of the Tour moneylist.
